Trebles aren't just about scoring goals: Barça-Dortmund hot takes

BarcelonaBarça's resounding victory over Borussia Dortmund has them one foot in the Champions League semi-finals. Here are some quick notes.

Reasons to win the treble. The Catalans dream of the treble because winning it is so likely. Trebles come when you're the best team; when epic feats, refereeing controversies, and chance play little role (which is why Madrid has never celebrated one). However, while the overwhelming dominance of Flick's Barça inspires the utmost optimism in the fight for titles, there are always moments when the details are decisive. And, for now, that variable is also in their favor. This was evident in the two clear chances Guirassy missed before halftime, in the Dortmund counterattack that referee Eskas inadvertently thwarted, or in the centimetres of his boot that saved Raphinha from ruling out a clear goal by Cubarsí. The storm and the final score came after these strokes of luck.

A saying that was born in India. The details also condemned Dortmund in the first minutes of the restart. When the Germans were playing their best, Barça made it 2-0 from a move masterminded by Lamine Yamal, who once again proved himself the best player in the world at 17 years old. The winger from Rocafonda delivered a sweet shot that Raphinha headed home, allowing Lewandowski to beat Kobel at the far post with his header. As the saying goes: "Two headers in the opponent's box are a goal." The phrase became famous thanks to a 1960 Indian joke, where it was decided that goals could also be scored without the ball entering the net. Can you imagine football with this rule in place? Osasuna would be a Champions League team.

Another bet that works. Rather than seeing him as a starter in Dani Olmo's place, it was strange that Fermín was the one in charge of setting up set pieces. With Pedri, Raphinha, or De Jong on the pitch, it was the Andalusian who took the free kick that made it 1-0. And what's more, he did it following the coaches' rules: he made a seemingly harmless cross because Iñigo, imperial one more night, He appeared almost at the far post, setting up Cubarsí, who scored three-quarters of the goal that Raphinha, the top scorer in this Champions League, finished off on the line. How important it is for Barça to score from set pieces even if they don't have the most powerful players on the continent. And how hungry the Brazilian was: the ball was already going in on its own.

Shut mouths in time. Lamine Yamal served the 2-0, launched the move for the 3-0, and scored the 4-0. His second half was an abuse. Poor Bensebaini joins the list of humiliated scorers this season. It's only fair that the Mataró-born striker makes the headlines for a magical night in Europe, but we also have to consider De Jong's tremendous performance. It's now safe to say that Flick has discovered the best version of the Dutch midfielder at Barça. The former Ajax player, immaculate in passing, has suddenly learned to hold his position without it stopping him from galloping vertically from time to time. Furthermore, without the ball, he's developed a sixth sense for anticipating danger and stopping it. Long gone are those sequences of indolence and eye marking. He will renew and stay. His detractors, with their mouths shut. As Gavi would say, they didn't have "a fucking clue."