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
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”
Real Madrid 0, Barça 4, aka “Reruns are nice”
When you fire up a movie you’ve seen before, or happen across it while channel surfing and stop, it isn’t because you’re lazy. It’s because sometimes, you just want those feelings again. Manager takes over a Barça team in disarray, works wonders with the psychology, instills a tactical sense and the team takes off like… Continue reading Real Madrid 0, Barça 4, aka “Reruns are nice”
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
Messi, PSG, failure and choice
Own it. Accept it. Understand the idea of choice. When sucky things happen to wonderful players, the nature of fandom is to seek absolution for them. But from the outset it should be clear that Lionel Messi chose to hitch his wagon to PSG, for a last chance at something great. There’s no shame in… Continue reading Messi, PSG, failure and choice
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