FC Barcelona did something on Saturday that the men’s first team hadn’t managed since September 2019.
That was beating Getafe 2-0 in the Coliseum, i.e. one of Barca’s least preferred venues known for tight 1-1 draws and even defeats.
It’d been an age since the Blaugrana had even scored more than one goal in the southern reaches of Madrid’s vast urban sprawl.
So when Fermin Lopez latched onto a ridiculous Pedri through ball after Pau Cubarsi won it in the centre of the park on the typically high defensive line, and put Barca 1-0 ahead, Culers could be forgiven for cliched Catalan pessimism creeping in and suspecting doom might be around the corner.
That almost came had it not been for a Cubarsi goal line clearance. Around a quarter of an hour from the finish line, however, a Marcus Rashford that has fallen down the pecking order and lost the left wing berth to midfielder Fermin struck in another one-on-one.
At full time, a landmark victory brought with it confirmation of an 11 point lead in La Liga as Barca close in on a second consecutive Spanish top flight title in the Hansi Flick era.
Mission accomplished without FC Barcelona’s two best forwards
But what’s even more impressive is that this was done without Lamine – out for the rest of the season with a hamstring knock – and a Raphinha who’s set to return to the fold against Osasuna next weekend thanks to his own problems in that part of his leg.
Though continental glory continues to elude it, there can be no doubt that FC Barcelona is the king of Spain that has sealed a domestic treble last term and what looks set to be a double this one – which also contains a second straight Super Cup won at Real Madrid’s expense.
This team is young but it has character. And although the summer transfer window could do with being raided for reinforcements, Flick has exactly the right blend of La Masia youth and gritty experience to dominate for the rest of the decade.
Whether he’ll be here beyond a reported 2028 extension remains to be seen. But he’s already said that he wants to stay until delivery of the Champions League, which remains an 11-year elusive Holy Grail for Culers and FC Barcelona.
