Many culers are still wrestling with the notion that their beloved club is in the Europa League. It’s not Champions League, right? It’s like that second-tier tournament where big clubs go to feel shame, and keep from getting egg on their faces at the hands of clubs that nobody except supporters ever watch, right? Right?… Continue reading Barça, for all the marbles … it’s Go Time
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Levante 2, Barça 3, aka “Links and redemption”
Football teams, at their highest-functioning level, are like electrical wiring. Without a complete circuit, something to close the loop, nothing happens. Sometimes that link comes through a player, sometimes a moment that catalyzes the proceedings, but without that linkup, that bit of solder, it’s just a bunch of dead wires. At the end of a… Continue reading Levante 2, Barça 3, aka “Links and redemption”
Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barça 1, aka “KaPOW!”
What a beautiful match the first leg of the Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt was. Yes, there was lots of grumbling, lots of grousing about the quality of football, a ref that left much to be desired and more. Xavi all but called their pitch a cabbage patch. But that match was like medicine… Continue reading Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barça 1, aka “KaPOW!”
From Frankfurt with Love: Eintracht-Barça
Long before I moved there, all I knew about Frankfurt was that it was the home of the European Central Bank. It was Germany, so of course it was efficient and cutting edge, which obviously meant that I envisioned a sparkling, futuristic world of marble and glass, sprawling plazas, and people in business suits wearing… Continue reading From Frankfurt with Love: Eintracht-Barça
Femeni at the Camp Nou, aka “Excellence right where it belonged”
It was weird watching that Femeni match in the Camp Nou, weird wrestling with a feeling that was difficult to describe, but one that you didn’t want to let go. And then it hit you. That lump in your throat that usually presages tears, but of joy and wonder and justice at looking at something… Continue reading Femeni at the Camp Nou, aka “Excellence right where it belonged”
Banking on a Miracle: Galatasaray – Barça Preview
It’s here. It’s time. Thursday is the big day, the one we’ve been looking forward to for months. The culmination of all the hard work, all the hours in the gym, all the training, all the film sessions and tactical analysis. It is the day that truly begins the quest for the holiest of grails… Continue reading Banking on a Miracle: Galatasaray – Barça Preview
Europa League preview: Barça-Galatasaray
Life can be confusing sometimes, especially when what you think you know turns out to be ridiculously wrong. As recently as 2 weeks ago I was operating on the assumption that Galatasary, Turkish league winners in 5 of the last 11 seasons and runners-up twice in the 6 years they didn’t win it, including last… Continue reading Europa League preview: Barça-Galatasaray
Are We Having Fun Yet? Elche – Barça
The 1965-66 La Liga season may not seem like much of a high-water mark, but for some it meets the criteria. There were 16 teams in the top flight and Atletico won the title with 44 points over 30 matches (wins were worth 2 points at the time, so in today’s world the colchoneros’ 18… Continue reading Are We Having Fun Yet? Elche – Barça
Xavi, mind power and building an idea(l)
Athletic accomplishment starts with mentality. Or as a longtime friend is fond of saying, “You gotta want it.” When Xavi arrived in Barcelona and assessed the team that he had, his talk was about mentality and psychology. It was clear to see why. Koeman, for whatever reason, inherited a broken team and somehow made it… Continue reading Xavi, mind power and building an idea(l)
El Banquillo 9: Team Talk
Ah — it’s, uh, been a while. For the uninitiated, El Banquillo is a set of posts from Barcelona Football Blog’s deep past that were based on an old Jon Bois thing called The Dugout, which is literally the only good thing to ever come out of baseball. There were originally 8 El Banquillo posts… Continue reading El Banquillo 9: Team Talk