An exuberant Barça shows no mercy to Athletic

BarcelonaBarça is a feast for the eyes. One of those teams that, for a few minutes, makes its fans forget the dreary routine of daily life and this increasingly crazy world. For 18 glorious minutes, Flick's team thrashed Athletic, scoring four goals that could have been more, and sealed a one-sided semifinal, a match played in only one direction, an avalanche of attacking football that overwhelmed Unai Simón (5-0). Barça didn't allow the Basques to write their own part of the story, condemning them to be yet another victim of a team that steamrolls you with the force of a bulldozer, all while heavenly violins play.

Barça returned to the stage where Hansi Flick first emerged a year ago. Where he began to bury the doubts in the Saudi Arabian sands, laying the foundations for a team that fans love. A year later, Barça are back in the Super Cup final, awaiting their Madrid opponent after easily dispatching their semifinal rivals. By halftime, the game was already decided as Unai Simón kept conceding goals. Joan Garcia, currently the subject of debate about who is the best Spanish goalkeeper, watched from a distance, relaxed. He was just another spectator in this stadium packed with Middle Eastern fans who had made the pilgrimage to see Barça's geniuses live. A strange tournament and setting, difficult to recognize. Unlike Barça's style of play.

The Basques offered no resistance, toothless lions. Barça is light years ahead of Ernesto Valverde's team, who doesn't have fond memories of playing in Saudi Arabia, as it was there that he was sacked by Barça years ago. Years that seem like centuries, considering the state of the club then and how they now support Flick's team, which does have a good record in the Super Cup, after last year's thrashing of Real Madrid. To celebrate their return to Saudi Arabia, another resounding victory.

And all this despite Lamine Yamal, who hadn't quite finished his job, being on the bench. No problem, goals are flowing for the current Barça. Flick, burdened by the old adage that second seasons are rarely good, has forged ahead by ignoring it. In fact, a few months ago it seemed this could be Lamine Yamal's season, but the collective spirit is prevailing over individual talent. If this Barça team has a name synonymous with football, it's Flick's. He works with a squad brimming with options, where everyone caresses the ball and praise is shared freely. A Barça that can win without Lamine. A team that overcomes injuries. This is Barça, generally speaking. It's not a one-man team, although if Pedri plays, life seems brighter. The Canary Islander never disappoints.

Flick opted for Roony Bardghji, the Swede born, by a twist of fate, in Kuwait, not far away, to energize the team on the left. It worked. Flick's problems are a blessing, allowing him to choose who plays in attack. Lewandowski and Dani Olmo waited on the bench, while on the pitch the starting players scored goals with ease. The first came from Ferran, who capped off a well-worked team move. Then came Fermín's goal, a man who never stops moving, and Roony's, after a serious error by Unai. The fourth, however, was a product of Raphinha, who conjured up a beautiful piece of skill. At halftime, Athletic were like rag dolls lying on the ground, as if Barça had grown tired of toying with them. Flick had the entire second half to do his calculations and start resting his players with Sunday's final in mind. Barça had already finished their job after 18 minutes.

A second half that was merely a formality

Just in case, the team came out firing after halftime. The fifth goal, scored by Raphinha, didn't take long to arrive. A play where they could have marked four different players, who were shooting at the opposing defense like children on a fairground ride. As if it were a game. An imaginative team, full of talent, with the magic and skill to write a sensual tale with the ball, like something out of the Arabian Nights or Ali Baba. An Arabian fantasy that came within a single step of winning another title. Blessed routine, this one of aspiring to titles every other week, something that for others is utopian.

Flick started making changes from the 65th minute onwards, bringing on players like Gerard Martin, Rashford, and Bernal. The game had been over for a while, under the frustrated gaze of Nico Williams on the bench. Not a single minute was played by a young man who understood that he has no place at Barça. If Flick's team wins without missing Lamine, who came on for the last 15 minutes, they'll miss him even less. Barça showed no mercy to their opponent. It's not cruelty, it's Flick's way of doing things: he always wants to improve, he always wants to see goals. Ambition and exuberance, the recipe for winning titles.