The best way to be champions: hot notes from Barça-Madrid

BarcelonaBarça is once again the League champion. In his second season as a Blaugrana, Hansi Flick has achieved a historic feat that fills Barcelonism with pride: to put the finishing touch to the League against Real Madrid (2-0) and, moreover, in a Camp Nou packed to the rafters and which has been a party since even before the start of the match.

The illusion of all Barcelonism. The voracious pace of football often causes perspective to be lost, but you only have to go back a little and remember when, two seasons ago, Madrid signed Mbappé and it seemed like he was going to eat the world. While Florentino added another star to his constellation of spoiled trading cards, Flick arrived at Barça. "He is the signing" was distilled from the noble offices of Camp Nou. Two seasons later, the German already has two leagues, one Cup and two Super Cups with a team full of young players who are the illusion of all Barcelonism. In contrast, Mbappé has won a European Super Cup and a FIFA Intercontinental Cup, two low-profile titles that almost no one remembers in a broken locker room full of scandals.

A record to be proud of. As coach of Barça, Hansi Flick has faced Real Madrid on a total of seven occasions with a record of six victories and only one single defeat, that of the first-round classic at the Santiago Bernabéu. The record is spectacular, because of these six victories, the last one served to seal the League right under the noses of the white team and up to three have served to win finals against the eternal rival: the Spanish Super Cup of 2025 (5-2), last season's Copa del Rey (3-2) and this year's Spanish Super Cup (3-2). The goal record is also brutal: 22goals to 11. The coach, in mourning for the death of his father, saw how the team dedicated the title to him on a magical night at the new Camp Nou. Thank you, Hansi.

Rashford's sweetest night. With more statistics than sensations, the Englishman will bid farewell to Barça, leaving in the memory of all fans the spectacular free-kick goal that initiated the victory against Real Madrid in the first Clásico at the new stadium. The club will hardly pay Manchester United the 30 million it would cost to keep him permanently, in a deal difficult to afford because, moreover, the Briton earns one of the highest salaries in the Premier League. Repeating a loan is ruled out, as he is out of contract with the Red Devils in 2028 and they will want to cash in this very summer. The Englishman has had a good run of recent matches: a goal in Getafe, an assist against Osasuna, and a spectacular goal in the Clásico. It is a shame he did not show up in the Champions League when he was most needed.

Joan Garcia's League. Flick was the signing two seasons ago, and this year it has been Joan Garcia, also in capital letters. The goalkeeper from Sallent did not have it easy: leaving Espanyol –the club where he had trained and which had brought him to the elite– for Barça has cost him becoming personanon grata at the RCDE Stadium. When Barça signed him for 25 million euros, few doubted the wisdom of securing a goalkeeper for the present and future. Joan was the revelation in goal last season and a decisive asset for Espanyol to avoid relegation. At Barça, he has settled in well with the dressing room – he maintains a great friendship with Olmo and Eric –, he is already a League champion, he will win the Zamora Trophy for the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded, and he has debuted with the Spanish senior national team. Well deserved.