Article by Sergiu Alexandru – published Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 00:10 / Updated Wednesday, April 16, 2025 00:29
The returns with AS Roma and Liverpool still haunt me. On the first (0-2 in the tour, 3-0 on “Olimpico) I did not anticipate. The one with Liverpool (3-0 in the tour, 4-0 for return) I” felt “in the morning of the match. Now, even two hours before the match in Dortmund I was thinking about the two matches and I imagined with Barcelona makes another classic. Corroborated with a “remontada” of the Real.
Fortunately, Flick's team goes on. (I hope Arsenal). He only lost 3-1. With good luck, with many emotions, with far too many heartbeat per minute for fans through too many disappointments in recent years. And all because of what the Blaugrana club lost.
Barcelona doesn't scare!
Matches were lost, money and qualifications were lost, Messi, Suarez, Busquets or Neymar left, but another is actually the great loss of the Catalans.
On social media there is talk of “aura”, a term often used in the case of athletes who have done something unheard of. Like Michael Jordan, Lebron, Djokovic, Nadal, Messi or Cristiano. Or as is the case of Real Madrid in the Champions League. Barcelona cannot be on this list.
Fermin Lopez, enjoying after the German's autogole // Photo: Imago
10 years have passed since the last trophy in the most important European competition. Since then they have many black evenings, either in the eliminatory phases or in groups. And harsh defeats that have loudly struggled from what the mental impact on the opponents means. The Catalans no longer inspire fear in the Champions League, as Real Madrid does, which the world sees with chances after 0-3 with Arsenal.
All those black evenings made Barcelona lose their magic. And the Catalans are no longer sure of qualification even after a categorical 4-0 in the tour.
Fear of mediocre team
Pushed by an exceptional audience, Borussia played as it should. Enthusiastically. He ran, put pressure, scored. Made Barcelona tremble. And only luck helped the Catalans. Who finished the match appearing a 3-1 of the Germans, pulling the time and fragmenting the game. That's what I'm doing at Football Manager.
Hansi Flick's team played the return from Dortmund more than disappointing. Without a vigor, without occasions, without being able to hold the ball. The weakest match of the season. A game at the passage of time, without intensity. One can talk about a relaxation after the result of the tour. But rather, another I think is the problem: lack of confidence.
The years in which Barcelona was consistently defeated in the UCL were seen. Borussia entered this match believing that she can return the score, not with the fear of another defeat. And Barcelona entered the field shy, fearing a possible shame, not with the thought of continuing the series of matches without defeat from 2025. In translation, a small team mentality.
6 yearsThey have passed since Barcelona has not been in the UCL semifinals. Was eliminated by Liverpool on a 7 May evening
The need for success
Sure, I'm not saying a small team has become. After all, he has the chance to make triple. But the Blaugrana band showed its great weakness. It is not the advanced line of the defenders, but the fragile mentality.
I hope this qualification will help in the semifinals. And to a possible final, although it seems to be more to Munich.
An eventual success in this edition would greatly help trust for the coming years. But I think it has to be a few more years until Barcelona does not tremble in return, in front of an imposing audience, after a first -sleeve victory, at home.
