And that, my friends, is how leagues are won: the hot notes from Athletic-Barça

BarcelonaWhat a three points! Before hearing the Champions League anthem again in Newcastle, Flick's team secured a victory in a stadium where they always have to work incredibly hard. Matches like this decide the league, although naturally, there's still a long way to go, and it's worrying to see so many players finishing matches completely exhausted.

Yes, that's how you win leagues

Sometimes there's beauty in matches that aren't quite good. With their legs wrecked after losing in the Cup, Athletic and Barça gave us an electric and emotional match, with homegrown players on both sides. A match that Flick's team deserved to win. They suffered through it, with emotion, and with a crucial goal from Lamine Yamal. If we open the great book of football clichés, we could say it's one of those matches that win leagues. And it doesn't seem crazy to say that. Because of the setting, because it keeps Real Madrid at bay, and because of the character of the players, who desperately want to be champions. You have to win when you suffer, when you're tired, when you feel like you can't go on.

Lamine Yamal, five seconds is enough.

We could say that Lamine Yamal played a good game for a few seconds: the one with his spectacular goal. It wasn't his day, the player from Rocafonda. He was losing the ball easily, couldn't get past Adama Boiro, and was running up and down the field looking tired, with a sad expression. Understandable, after the effort he put in during the Copa del Rey, when he gave his all. But Hansi Flick has already understood that you can't change him, because geniuses decide games even when they're not having their best. Everyone knew he'd pull off something. Flick knew it, San Mamés knew it, and the millions of people watching the game knew it. Three seconds, and he decides games.

Living with Pedri is always better

But Pedri needed to come on to help Lamine. He was the one who created the goal. We all have doubts, and we all have ideas we'll defend at all costs. Like, for example, that life is always better with Pedri. Of course, Barça can win matches; they've done it many times before. Of course, football is a team sport, but Pedri changes things. It's not just about tactics and results; it's about aesthetics. The moment the Canary Islander came onto the pitch, Barça looked different. The problem is that he can't always play; he's tired. You can't manage his playing time as much as you'd like. What a terrible dilemma for Flick, thinking he can't always play him.

And living with Joan Garcia is also necessary.

Another certainty is that Joan Garcia, despite making some mistakes this season, inspires confidence. He brings calm. He always looks focused and composed. Always engaged. At San Mamés, he made some important saves again, but his merit goes far beyond that. Those crosses he always manages to catch when they're far from the post, those passes behind the center-backs where he acts like a center-back himself. Those plays where he initiates attacks with his feet. Methodical, consistent work. A silent worker.