The old Barça ended up eating the new Barça to further sink the project of Xavi Hernández, who after being devastated in the Super Cup was also eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey in San Mamés. Already in extra time, and despite the emotional efforts of three minors (Lamine Yamal, Héctor Fort and Pau Cubarsí) and also Marc Guiu (18), the team ended up giving up. Sergi Roberto, captain and metaphor of another time, was run over by a kid who had also just left, Mikel Jauregizar. And Iñaki Williams, eternal scourge and recent arrival from the Africa Cup, gave the shovel for his brother Nico to put the flowers.
No matter how much it covers that toxic quagmire in which leaders, referees, communicators and fans wallow with extreme addiction, the eyes are still somewhat uncovered to attend matches of the transcendence and epic of San Mamés. A scenario where lies and propaganda do not work, only effort and coherence.
AND This Xavi’s Barça is not a sane team, so discontinuous and histrionic that it is impossible to know what will come next. At least, yes, she maintains his curious routines, like someone who wakes up staining his shirt with milk and cookies. This time he conceded the first goal after 36 seconds. A disturbance that speaks of the emotional fragility of footballers, with tension on the floor and drool hanging from their lips when the alarm clock rings. But also the grotesque positioning of the footballers, who start the games without knowing what to do or where to stand. And your coach has responsibility for this.
Koundé, everything backwards
Lamine Yamal found the ball on the sideline and thought that Koundé would be behind him to receive. But the Frenchman, who lately does everything the other way around, was already running upwards to the glory of Nico Williams, who was now able to continue with the action at his leisure. What came next was business as usual. No Barça player gave a right in the area. De Jong stared at the shrews. Bucket became disoriented due to so much rebound. And for Guruzeta, a biting shot was enough.
OK. Barça got into a good mood afterwards. Even though Pedri is still out of shape, he knew how to control the pressure from Valverde’s players by looking for Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres on the banks. But the routines, of course, returned. The fibers in Bucket’s thigh burstand with Cancelo still limping, the one who had to assume responsibility on the side – and with a superb tone – went to another teenager, Héctor Fort (17 years old).
Momentary comeback
Barcelona’s good stretch was rewarded with the momentary comeback, plotted in six minutes. At 1-1, and after Ferran colored a pass from Christensen, A good splash of holy water fell on Lewandowski. Yuri, who had been slipping all night, completed the surrealism with a bad rejection. Lewandowski, a specter – Xavi changed him for João Félix with everything to resolve – did not even move. The ball hit his leg as a preliminary step towards the net.
Lamine Yamal borders on glory
Another thing was 1-2. Check out Lamine Yamal’s goal (16). He received the ball in the axis. Vivian, frustrated, could only let him pass. And Paredes was shocked to see how the boy unleashed a glorious lash from the front.
Lamine Yamal must be looked at with the eyes of a child, because those of an adult are always distrustful and fearful. The adult view will tell you that it is too early for him to always be a starter. Or so that his game is tremendous and continuous, as if soccer were played with feigned intensity and with the mechanical parsimony of the missionary. And they will want to be right when they remember their two missed goals in the second half in two duels in the sun against Agirrezabala. The tie was there.
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Barça is an enemy of peace, so it played with torment from the very beginning of the second act. To Koundé, whose gloomy defensive level contrasted with the excellence of Héctor Fort, he failed to take a pack of pipes out of his pocket while Nico centered. De Jong played dead, and Sancet once again conceded the tie to an Athletic team that Araujo tried to stop with his foxy knee and already with Cubarsi as an ally.
But the extension was already too much. Sergi Roberto capitulated. Vitor Roque, alleged hope paid for at the price of a messiah, did not even appear. And Nico Williams finished off the fourth goal, took off his shirt, and started dancing. Where better than in front of Barça’s tomb.