With Marc Bernal you don't miss De Jong: the hot notes from Barça-Sevilla

BarcelonaA perfect day at Can Barça. Thousands of people have shown that this club is special because you can vote, there's a new stand open that has made the stadium feel spacious, and they've dominated on the pitch, where they didn't have to suffer for a single moment. As if it were a Gamper Trophy match or a barbecue, Sevilla let themselves be led to the slaughter like lambs and made it easy for Flick's Barça.

Who remembers Frenkie de Jong?

Another brilliant match from Marc Bernal. Every time you see him play, you wonder what would have happened if he hadn't been injured last season. He would have played more, he would have more experience. On the very day Sergio Busquets was at the Camp Nou voting, he worked his magic. In fact, certain details make you think about it. Tall, slender, talented, and with that face that never gets flustered. He contributes more in attack, he needs to improve defensively, but what a player is developing before our eyes. You watch him, and suddenly you remember that you don't miss Frenkie de Jong at all. In fact, Bernal and the Dutchman can play together. We'll see. But in terms of feel, the man from Berga has already surpassed Frenkie.

The Cancelo phenomenon

Raphinha scored the goals. And it was good to see him get back to that form. But Joao Cancelo was the mastermind behind the goals. The Portuguese player is a strange one. You get the feeling there's no middle ground with him. He's either the best player on the pitch or Flick has to substitute him because he's up to his old tricks. Against Sevilla, he was on fire. He was making the most of every attack, he looked happy, dangerous. The pity is that you know he's not consistent, because if he were always like that, there wouldn't be any debate. We'd always want him at the Camp Nou. But it's an illusion, we have to accept it.

Blessed Farmhouse

Xavi Espart made his La Liga debut as a starter. We already saw him in the final minutes against Newcastle, where he clearly demonstrated his character. Much is said about the talent of La Masia players, but it's also necessary to talk about their mentality. A lad like Esparto moved up and down the pitch calmly, without making mistakes, without appearing nervous. We always say that La Masia never fails, always ready when the time comes. And the facts prove us right. In the end, Barça finished the match with eight homegrown players on the pitch, one of them Gavi, who finally returned to the field. Good news, gradually adding players in this final stretch of the season.

What to do with the striker?

Five goals, a party, and a rout. And all this without a center forward in form. Lewandowski tried anyway, without success. On one occasion, he complained about his mask, which moved just as he was about to head the ball. In the end, one-on-one with the visiting goalkeeper, he sent it wide. Ferran Torres isn't at his best, and neither is the Polish striker. Who should play against Newcastle? That's one of the problems Flick is currently dealing with. The good news is that Raphinha and Olmo are scoring again. And Lamine is always there. If the rest of the team is scoring, it's not so bad that the strikers seem unhappy. Now, one of the two had better wake up, because we're entering the crucial phase of the season.