BARCELONA – Barcelona in the emergency department left Seville very alive, committed again, it remains to be seen how long, at the dream of fighting for the title and tied the fifteenth undefeated game in the League (12 wins and 3 draws) that, beyond of football sensations, they represent a balance worthy of consideration. Koeman’s numbers are there, ready to discuss all the mistakes, all the criticisms and any arguments on the sidelines.
A victory both prestigious and reliable, a victory that catapulted him to second place in the league and two points behind the lead (although he has two more games than Atlético de Madrid) and took the ghosts off the stage … so much now possible to think that those draws at the Camp Nou against Eibar and Cádiz FC could burden him too much.
Injured Gerard Piqué, Ronald Araújo and Pedri in the worst news about a perfect afternoon (“I feel very proud of the team”, revealed Piqué), Barça said that in the middle of a roller coaster they have the ability to grow, compete and he believes. “The league, certainly yes, because there is a lot left,” said the veteran center, remembering that the past is the best basic element to believe that the season is still to be decided.
MEMORIES AND LEARNING
In the 2003-04 season, Rijkaard’s first on the bench, Barça surviving a match to close the first round (after losing 3-0 in Santander was 12th in the standings, at 20 points behind the Real Madrid leader), was transformed under the magic of Ronaldinho and the energy of newcomer Edgar Davids to catapult himself in a superb way: he tied 17 games without losing, 14 wins and 3 draws, which even led him to title fights up to three matches in the final fell 1-0 in Vigo against Celta Vigo.
But that was the letter of introduction to what would follow in the years to come. The confirmation of Víctor Valdés and Xavi Hernández, the leadership of Puyol, the appearance of Oleguer, the growth of Iniesta … And the knock at the door of the young Lionel Messi. Different from the current one? Probable. But with data to consider in terms of wardrobe.
Koeman’s Barça introduced Pedri and Araújo, entrusts the future to Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati, is eyeing Ousmane Dembélé, guarded by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen or trusting Sergiño Dest … and supporting Piqué or Sergio Busquets has in Messi the leader in charge of linking the past and the future. It may not be enough to pick up the headlines right away, but it’s still a long-term plan.
Of the 23 games he had undefeated in the 2018-19 season (18 wins and 5 draws that gave him the title with three dates in advance), the Barça team did not enjoy a series like that as positive as the current one, colored with three draws at the Camp Nou (Valencia, Eibar and Cádiz) that weigh like a plate in the standings, because without those mistakes today, Koeman’s group would be comfortably leading (certainly with two games more than Atlético) in a League than the Barça coach insists on keeping it open.
The calendar that remains in front of the favorite, still Atlético, and the aspirants Barça and Real Madrid, maybe even Sevilla FC, invites us to think that the League can still give enough return. It will be necessary to see to what extent Simeone’s team is able to overcome its latest failures, to know if the pandemic of the victims does not shoot Zidane’s people and to check the reaction of Lopetegui’s people …
And, in a Boat Key, continue to stick to a roller coaster of sensations and results until the end of the season. With or without titles, with better or not so good feelings … But thinking, going back to the past, that this season should probably mark the beginning of a new stage.