The Barça miracle
BarcelonaWe're starting to normalize that a team full of teenagers, with a 17-year-old world-class star like Lamine Yamal, and a coach who's been in charge for only nine months, is the favorite to win not just La Liga or the Copa del Rey, but even the Champions League. And the most curious thing of all is that it's not a delirium, nor are we suffering from collective alienation. Barça is so fun, transmits such good energy, and has so many good players that what seemed impossible in the summer has become a probability, something that can happen. That, and nothing else, is Hansi Flick's great miracle.
That they visit the Metropolitano this Sunday with the general feeling that if they don't win it will be a disappointment is also remarkable. No matter how tired Atlético may be after extra time in Wednesday's European derby and after the huge disappointment of being eliminated due to Julián Álvarez's controversial penalty, Cholo's team are a more developed, experienced team and have the advantage of playing at home. But Barça's miracle is also that: expectations are no longer about performing well, continuing to grow or competing and seeing what happens, but rather winning and leaving a direct rival in the fight for the title even more damaged.
The comparison with Real Madrid is inevitable. They don't play well, they don't entertain, they don't captivate, and Vinicius and Mbappé don't look like they'd be sending each other good morning texts, but they're still in with a chance in all three competitions. They had a tough time at Villarreal and Courtois had to shine again, but as much as they give the impression of being on the wire about to fall off, they are still standing, alive and kicking, and there are so many occasions when they are given up for fried that they end up resurrecting that it is no exaggeration to say that they invented the concept of a miracle.
For the first time in years - since the Guardiola era - I hear Barça fans dreaming and wishing (including Pau Cubarsí who claims to sign it in an interview with 'Mundo Deportivo') for a Champions League final against Real Madrid, and if that does not fall into the paranormal, the extraordinary, it is because we are not paying due attention. Welcome to self-esteem, confidence, optimism, because it is a bit of a miracle, eh?