With Real Madrid having won their fixture on Saturday, a fuller than usual Camp Nou – thanks to the opening of another area behind the goal and the club’s presidential elections – were expecting three points to keep them at arm’s length from their eternal rivals.
Having won every league game played at home in the 2025/26 season, the pressure was always going to be on the Andalusians; however, complacency had been Barca’s enemy in the past.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…
Cancelo making things happen … again
There’s
no doubt that having Joao Cancelo as a left-back isn’t ideal; however, the one thing (other than experience) that he would appear to have over Alejandro Balde is that when he plays, he makes things happen.
Yes, he can be a little too gung-ho on occasions, but he always has defenders on the back foot, is happy to go inside or outside, and can generally be relied upon to put in a half-decent cross 90% of the time.
His goal capped a fine individual performance.
Even a fully-fit Balde often has trouble with his final ball, and will almost always look to go down the outside because he’s so one-footed, making him that much more predictable.
Cancelo is getting no younger, of course, so this particular solution can surely only be temporary.
A captain’s performance from Raphinha
I’ve written in this column before about how Raphinha has flourished with the responsibility of being handed the captain’s armband.
It appears to elevate his performances to the point where he is truly leading by example.
Against Sevilla, he was in his element, and not just because of the hat-trick.
Hustling, harrying, chasing lost causes… his was another brilliant all-round effort and the type of showing that his colleagues should aspire to.
Midfield strength in depth as Gavi returns
The return of Gavi for a late cameo was obviously a big plus for the team and Hansi Flick, though the Blaugranes had dominated the midfield exchanges well before his arrival on the pitch.
The industry of fellow subs, Fermin Lopez and Marc Casado, kept the opposition at bay for long periods in the second half, whilst Marc Bernal and Pedri had been quietly effective, as per.
Dani Olmo also produced one of his better 90 minutes for the club, and when the middle of the park is on song, Barca are an entirely different proposition.
Teams can’t get at the back four or take advantage of the high line, so… more of the same please.
