Barcelona changed the El Clasico storyline on Sunday after thrashing Real Madrid 0-4, cementing the resurgence that newly appointed coach, Xavi Hernandez, is spearheading.
Real Madrid have been the dominant team, having their best Clasico run in years. The Galaticos have won the last five meetings in all competitions and stayed 15 points clear of Barcelona in La Liga before the game.
Xavi has managed to assemble a team made up of mostly young people in a very short time, who keep springing surprises in every match. Tearing the Madrid team apart on Sunday was an addition to the winning streak that has run since Xavi took over.
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It was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who opened the scoring in the 29th minute and netted one more at the 51st to claim a brace. The former Arsenal man has been on rampage since he controversially left the London side in January, scoring nine goals in 11 appearances. Both Ferran Torres and Ronald Araujo, who headed home a corner from the box, scored to seal the match for Barcelona.
Barcelona is pushing to make a full recovery from the crises that forced its former president Josep Bartomeu to resign and its best player Lionel Messi to be sold last summer to French side Paris Saint Germaine (PSG).
Xavi, Barcelona’s legend, who spent his entire playing career at the club, was hired in November after Andy Koeman failed to revive the team. Xavi’s deep knowledge of Barcelona’s philosophy has been seen in the team’s recent outings. Barca beat Italian side Napoli, 2-4 last month in Europa League playoff to clinch a place in the competition after their woeful ouster from the Champions League. The Barca’s win over Napoli followed a 1-4 bashing of Valencia in La Liga.
The rejuvenated and revitalized team has maintained the intensity since, scoring up to four goals in most matches, a clear contrast to the results under Koeman, when the team struggled to score more than one goal. Xavi had admitted that the job is “the biggest challenge of my career”, and complained that he was finding it hard to understand his players. However, the 41-year old expressed optimism.
“We will try to make the players happy. We will have to work hard and with clear objectives of trying to win, it is clear. I am very positive and will have to work a lot to make things click,” Xavi had said.
However, while the club and fans rejoice as the team retrace its steps to the glorious days, it may not be the same for Messi, who is clearly not enjoying his stay in Lique1. What the Argentine astro has ever wanted was a rejuvenated and revitalized team that can take on any team without being humiliated. Alas when his dream team became a reality, he couldn’t be part of it.
