Barça has spent the money they didn’t have to make a champion team. Hence, the European double elimination hurts even more. The Spanish Super Cup has been won. They are competing with serious options for the League-Cup double. But the 213 million invested since December 2021 should have served to, at least, not have been left out of the Champions League in the group stage and not have been expelled from the Europa League at the first opportunity. This Barça under construction is strong in Spain but still weak in Europe. And the numbers reflect it with terrible cruelty. Xavi’s team has won 19 of the 22 games he has played in the League. However, they have only managed 2 wins in 8 continental matches and both against Viktoria Plzen. In the League, Ter Stegen has only conceded 7 goals in 22 games, at an average of 0.3 goals per game (or, what is the same, one goal every 282 minutes). In Europe, the German goalkeeper has conceded 16 goals in 8 games, at an average of 2 goals per game (one goal every 45 minutes).
These dramatic data do not justify the European disappointment by themselves, but they are a symptom that shows that Barça is still not in a position to compete (and win) against the great continental rivals. The disconnections suffered by the Blaugrana team in the second half or the inability to seal matches with a second or third goal generate many more problems in Europe than in Spain. The intensity and pace of the European teams is much higher than that of the Spanish. And games that Barça have won by suffering in the League (up to 9 victories by the minimum) have been defeats in the Champions League and the Europa League.
THE TRIPLE CLASSIC, ON THE HORIZON
Barça, however, must not rejoice in their misfortune (the injuries to vital players at decisive moments and bad luck in the draws have also played a role) and must look to the immediate future. On the nearest horizon is the classic triple against Madrid that could decide the blaugrana’s fate in the League and the Cup. Conquering a ‘national’ triplet in the first season of the new era would be a success that would cushion the ‘international fiasco’. It is not a consolation, because Barça is obliged to always win. But in this long reconstruction that the Blaugrana club is facing, adding titles is absolutely essential. Without excuses: the League and the Cup are now the objectives.