BARCELONA – Barcelona de las Emergencias left Sevilla very alive, re-engaged again, it remains to be seen for how long, in the dream of fighting for the title and linked its fifteenth unbeaten game in the League (12 wins and 3 draws) that , beyond football sensations, represent a balance worthy of consideration. Koeman’s numbers are there, ready to discuss every mistake, every criticism, and any argument on the sidelines.
A victory of both prestige and confidence, a victory that catapulted him to second place in the league and two points from the lead (although he has two more games than Atletico Madrid) and pushed the ghosts of the scenario … As much as you can now think that those draws at the Camp Nou against Eibar and Cádiz FC could weigh on him too much.
Injured Gerard Piqué, Ronald Araújo and Pedri in the worst news of a perfect afternoon (“I’m very proud of the team”, revealed Piqué), Barça showed that in the middle of the roller coaster it has the capacity to grow, to compete and believe. “There is a League, for sure, because there is a lot left,” said the veteran center, recalling that the past is the best record to think that the season is yet to be decided.
MEMORIES AND LEARNING
In the 2003-04 season, Rijkaard’s first on the Barça bench, Barça surviving the tightrope in a game to close out the first round (after a 3-0 win at Santander was 12th in the standings at 20 points of the Real Madrid leader), was transformed under the magic of Ronaldinho and the energy of the newcomer Edgar Davids to catapult himself superbly: he linked 17 games without losing, 14 wins and 3 draws, which the they even led to fighting for the title until three dates from the final fell to Vigo 1-0 against Celta Vigo.
But that was the cover letter of what would come in later years. The confirmation of Víctor Valdés and Xavi Hernández, the leadership of Puyol, the appearance of Oleguer, the growth of Iniesta … And the call at the door of the young Lionel Messi. Different from the current one? Probably. But with data to consider as far as the investor is concerned.
Koeman’s Barça have introduced Pedri and Araújo, entrusting their future to Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati, keeping an eye on Ousmane Dembélé, protected by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen or trusting Sergiño Dest … And sustaining himself with Piqué or Sergio Busquets Messi has the leader in charge of linking past and future. It may not be enough to raise headlines right away but it’s still a well-rounded plan.
From the 23 games he linked unbeaten in the 2018-19 season (18 wins and 5 draws that gave him to be champion with three dates ahead) the Barça team did not enjoy a streak as positive as the current, tainted by three draws at the Camp Nou (Valencia, Eibar and Cádiz) that weigh like a slab in the standings because without those mistakes today Koeman’s group would go to bed comfortably leading (certainly with two more games than Atletico) of a League that the Barça coach insists on keeping open.
The schedule ahead of the favorite, still Atlético, and the aspiring Barça and Real Madrid, even maybe Sevilla FC, invites us to think that the League can still go a long way. It remains to be seen to what extent Simeone’s team is able to overcome its latest setbacks, whether the pandemic of casualties does not drag those of Zidane and check the reaction of those of Lopetegui …
And, in Barça’s key, continue to cling 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, resuming the past, that this season will probably mark the beginning of a new stage.