He first went to Sánchez Pizjuán on May 7, 1986. Then, on May 25, 2019 at Benito Villamarín. And finally on January 17, 2021 at La Cartuja Stadium. Three different domains in the same city and three defeats, hard to accept, that remain in the history of Barcelona. Only once, in 1925, did the Barça team win a final in this city … And it was in a fourth different stadium, now the late Reina Victoria stadium, where they defeated Arenas de Getxo. In a very, very distant time …
Nothing, of course, can compare to the defeat of 1986, when Barcelona reached the final of the Champions League, then called the European Cup, to face a Steaua from Bucharest that no one believed. They overtook the team led by Bernd Schuster and led by the Englishman Terry Venables. The clash ended with a penalty kick and defeat … And without Schuster on the field, replaced by the coach in the second half.
That sporting tragedy was dragged into the soul by Barcelona fans until after six years, the thorn was removed when they defeated Sampdoria at Wembley with Koeman’s goal, unforgettable … Although in books he never disappeared, never will painful defeat to Sánchez Pizjuán.
He did not play a final in Seville until many years later, on May 25, 2019. The team, led by Valverde, reached that final of the King’s Cup against Valencia coached by Marcelino García Toral in a complete depression. Although he had won the League, he was still pulling the Anfield collapse, where 18 days before he had been crushed by Liverpool in the Champions League … And Valencia defeated him, at Benito Villamarín, 2-1. Messi scored, but it was not enough to equalize 2-0 with which the rival had advanced.
And the third came. The last collapse in a game in which Barça arrived re-armed with morale, but without obvious football to overcome the rival. Feelings against Real Sociedad were no longer the best. He won the penalty kick in a semifinal that could fall on both sides … And he was seen in a final without the necessary ambition to prevail in football.
Barça, suffering badly in defense, did not come out to play with character, trying to minimize the risks and trying to win the final with the minimum or, at least, without biting football.
Another big game and another stone in Koeman’s way. Defeated by Getafe and Cádiz in collapses without any excuse in the opponent’s vision, Barça lost this season to Real Madrid and Atlético in the League, was defeated by Juventus in the Champions League and lost in their first final against Athletic … Lots to think about.
Messi wanted to play, but it was not enough to lead the team. Neither Pedri nor Dembélé accompanied him, he could not combine then with De Jong due to the pressure of the rival and only Griezmann’s sparks seemed to give him the air to win.
Could Barça win? Categorical. It could even be said that Athletic accidentally tied the last breath … But it must be said that this tie rewarded both the courage and faith of the lions and punished the discouragement and a little aggression of the Catalans.
Seville was pathetic again … And it leaves doubts at the Camp Nou at the worst moment of the season.