By Isaac Akugizibwe
SPORTS
After a thrashing 4-0 win at Real Madrid, Barcelona need no other way to announce to the world that the lost glory might be just around the corner.
The Catalan giants started Saturday’s Elclassico as the underdogs given their averagely younger squad and their recent achievements compared to those of the reigning European and Spanish champions.
Much as Real Madrid dominated the first half where they should have been atleast 2-0 up, the Catalan giants held on and were all different in the second half.
Clinical finishing from their talismanic Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski who scored twice in two minutes (54, 56) eventually changed the rhythm of the game in Hansi Flick’s favour before Lamine Yamal’s 77th minute strike stretched the lead for the rejuvenated Barcelona.
Raphinha scored in the 84th minute, chipping over Lunin to add harm to the Galacticos but also make it four goals in two games following his incredible hatric against Bayern Munich mid-week in the Champions league.
Madrid will have Mbappe to blame in someway after the French sensation failed to convert on several occasions including two of his goals being cancelled for offside. It was a nightmare Elclassico debut for Madrid’s number nine as the defending champions also saw their incredible 43 games unbeaten run come to an end.
The Elclassico victory puts Barcelona six points clear on top of the Laliga table standings and look poised to dominate once again.
The back to back victories for Barcelona especially against Europe’s elite, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in just four days is enough evidence of the revolution Hansi Flick is leading at Nou Camp.
It might not be the old flaired tiki taka but a new invention that combines the Lamasia flair with the Hansi Flick forward minded and high pressing game characterised by precision, ruthlessness and teamwork.
“We have our ideas. Our philosophy is to press high and make it hard for the opponent to play out. Too much space between the lines doesn’t work for us,” Flick told a press conference on Friday.
That was Flick’s first Elclassico as Barcelona Manager. What a start to life in the world’s biggest club football rivalry!.
