At 80 years old they don’t stop dancing, jumping and moving like possessed people. To rock. The old rockers never die. Xavi’s team could have used a little of the inexhaustible energy that Mick Jagger displays on stage (and in the Montjuïc box). If the Stones seem to have made a pact with the devil to tour and release albums six decades later, Barcelona must be remembered that the classics last 90 minutes. The final stretch of the match ruined a plan that worked, and very well, for an hour. The young rockers couldn’t last. The Rolling Stones always leave their fans wanting more. It was too long for Barça.
After dominating, controlling, taking the lead early, winning many duels, looking very superior, enjoying, hitting the post twice, asking for a penalty just before half-time and minimizing Madrid, everything collapsed . The work was in vain. The commendable effort was fruitless. The comebacks came just right. The good image calms consciences but does not give points.
The last half hour spoiled a great performance. Even less. In the last 25 minutes in which the Blaugrana collapsed. They took a step back, gave up meters and the ball, they physically fell. Barça went into reserve, they ran out of fuel. He ran out of gasoline.
Xavi did not hesitate to play to Madrid’s muscle with a midfield with a lot of brains. With Gavi (1.73 meters) as a pivot and Gündogan (1.80) and Fermín (1.74) on the inside. The intensity, placement and speed of execution of the three did the rest. Nobody recovered more balls than Gavi (he intercepted nine). The Andalusian was also the one who won the most duels, with ten. The German, who made his debut as a scorer, only missed five passes out of the 84 he gave. And Fermín was always ahead of Kroos. The short ones reached everything. The Blaugrana authority was indisputable in that section.
But all good things come to an end for a Barça team that remained unbeaten this season. If we look for causes, tiredness, overexposure and heavy legs appear as alibis. Gündogan has nine entire games in a row, without being able to rest for a minute. Fermín, a worthy player who last year played against Castilla – he lost both rounds 2-0 with Linares – has started four games and Gavi felt alone. Fermín and Christensen took a while to come out to cover Bellingham’s shot from the front at 1-1.
It was time to refuel. And Xavi looked on the bench for two players who were discharged in the morning. Lewandowski (61) and Raphinha (76) came in, two threats, two emotional blows. But the classic came too soon because it was very fair. Without rhythm, two starting theorists were not dangerous. Oriol Romeu, removed from the eleven and who replaced Fermín, lost the Englishman’s mark at 1-2 when the encores were already being played.
What would have happened if, at the crest of the Barça wave, Gil Manzano, or Cuadra Fernández in the VAR, had seen Tchouaméni’s grab for Araújo in the area, just after a corner on the stroke of half-time? The Frenchman, with his left arm, grabbed the Uruguayan by the neck to prevent him from jumping and throwing him to the ground. Perhaps the game would have gone so downhill that the local legs would have gone alone. But that’s already fiction. The big concerts don’t last an hour but have encores. Barça learned it the hard way.
