I hope it rains goals at the Camp Nou. But no, there is no downpour. The success does not fall from the sky. Not a drizzle, not two drops. Neither chirimiri nor a calabobos. The same drought that the Catalan swamps are experiencing stalks Xavi’s Barcelona. The Barcelona Coliseum is another of those places where you can go for dryland tourism. Nobody better personalizes that desperation to introduce the ball into the goal, because the ball enters, like Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.

It is difficult to discern who needs to scare away their ghosts more, if the Valencian or the youth squad. One was the star signing of last season, for which 55 million were paid. The other is the great hope of the club and number 10. But in March 2023 both are in need, thirsty.

The forwards believe that the goal will be like a miracle cure, like a vaccine against a virus, like an analgesic pill that will eliminate pain, that will erase everything that came before like the blue pill from the Matrix. In training, says Xavi, you can see great goals. Later in the games, they are seen dropper.

So when Alberola Rojas pointed to the penalty spot they both rubbed their hands. Ferran Torres has chained four months without seeing the door with the Barça shirt. Since before the World Cup. Since the trip to Pilsen. For his part, Ansu Fati has been suffering since he beat Ceuta in the Cup. Since then, little or nothing. He is so obfuscated that at the Bernabéu he even inadvertently saved a goal from Kessié. So they both wanted the maximum penalty.

The ex from Valencia took control of the ball and no longer released it despite Fati’s pleas. He felt supported by the coaching staff list. “There is an order that we communicate to the footballers. The order of the list was clear and the players know it”, explained Xavi.

The man from Foios transformed the two he shot with Barça last season and in Qatar he beat Keylor Navas. On the other hand, Fati has no known precedents. But he didn’t give up at first and kept insisting. Torres hid the ball, changed hands, even put his body, his hip, to push his teammate away. “I am glad that Ansu is daring. I see it positive. He wants to score and be important. In the end they are feelings. It is a matter of communication. There is a person in charge and they should discuss it among themselves”, commented the technician. But in the end neither one nor the other was radiant, but rather scrawny. That is why Kessié, a specialist in the field, appeared. The Ivorian scored 10 in Serie A in 2020-21.

But there was nothing to do. Raphinha gave Fati an affectionate kiss on the back as consolation. Ferran Torres was determined. The penalty was his. Although in Valencia they knew him well. For this reason, Busquets approached him to warn him that Guillamón had spoken with the goalkeeper. The moment of the run arrived and, after all the hubbub, the blaugrana shot to the post and out.

And at the Camp Nou the debate was reopened with some whistles for the pitcher. Instead, on the next play, Fati shot Mamardashvili’s post and won the affection of the public. Although neither of them achieved their objective of marking and refloating their situation.

It happened in Zaragoza soon 13 years ago. Leo Messi had three goals and, in the 91st minute, the Argentine who had never done a poker before, preferred to concede a penalty to Ibrahimovic. The Swede thanked for the gift and scored the final 2-4. Things have changed a lot at Can Barça. The forwards too.