The duel titled El Clasico Spain, Barcelona against Real Madrid (16/1/2023) took place at the King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the Spanish Super Cup tournament. Barca won convincingly 3-1 over his eternal rival.
The victory also brought Barca up to the stage to lift the Spanish Super Cup trophy. Barca’s victory was very significant when judging from several aspects. First, Barca won in a classic duel against Real Madrid. This season, in the first volume of el clasico of the Spanish La Liga, Madrid silenced Barca with a score of 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid’s victory seemed to undermine Barca’s big project this season, where Barca carried out a massive squad renewal.
The project seemed to collapse when Karim Benzema and his friends appeared convincing at the Santiago Bernabeu. Hence, the victory against Madrid is very necessary because the competition will continue in mainland Spain. The Spanish Super cup competition is not the end. Barca are still in competition with Madrid for the Spanish La Liga trophy and maybe the Copa del Rey million in Spain.
Both teams are currently at the top of the Spanish league standings. Barca is 3 points ahead of Madrid. That advantage is not too secure because Barca also sometimes appear inconsistent. In order to maintain consistency, Barca needs positive energy such as winning important wins against strong teams and rivals like Madrid.
Becoming a champion by beating an eternal rival is a very meaningful moral injection for Barca when he returns to Spain. The team can be more compact, solid, and ready to face the rest of the competition convincingly. Second, being a champion is Barca’s proof.
Becoming the Spanish super cup winner is proof of the composition of the Barca squad this season. Barca, which was hit by a financial crisis, had to sell some of the club’s assets in order to get money to buy new players. Unmitigated, Barca brought in 5 new players to renew the squad. Behind this move, great responsibility rests on the shoulders of coach Xavi Hernandez.
However, this step is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand. Barca did perform quite well in the Spanish La Liga, but was surprisingly eliminated from the European Champions League. and have to play in the European Cup.
Barca’s elimination went in reverse with a renewal attempt earlier in the season. Disappointment is definitely there. Asa did not win the championship as if to be a shadow that haunts Barca.
Hence, winning the Spanish Super Cup seemed to prove Barca’s big investment at the start of the season. Xavi’s Barca project is running in the right direction, not only because he won the title but also managed to beat Real Madrid’s eternal rival. Third, Xavi Hernandes’ first trophy as Barca coach.
Xavi is the big hope of supporters to restore Barca’s glory days. In the first place, Xavi is one of the former Barca players who triumphed under Pep Guardiola’s coaching. Not a few parties want Xavi to return to the success of the Pep era.
Elsewhere, Xavi is so attached to Barca. In a way, Xavi’s football DNA is Barca’s DNA. Having been educated at La Masia and having spent more than two decades at Barca, Xavi’s appointment as coach has generated great optimism in the Barca camp. However, Xavi was faced with a few problems when he arrived at Barca a year ago. The composition of the squad of players is not so convincing.
Luckily, Xavi was supported by President Joan Laporta who supported Xavi in recruiting players. Slowly but surely, Xavi is trying to build Barca’s game. Indeed, Xavi-style projects are starting to give positive signs. Despite being eliminated from the Champions League, at least Barca are currently on the right track in the Spanish League.
Winning the Spanish Super Cup trophy had a positive effect on Xavi’s coaching. First trophy as Barca coach. Of course, this trophy has sentimental value. Furthermore, this trophy not only provides significant value to Xavi’s career but can be a moral support for Xavi as Barca coach.
Against Madrid, Xavi managed to get out of his comfort zone. Xavi did not change the mainstay formation 4-3-3 with a 4-2-3-1 formation. This formation worked. Sergio Busquets, who is usually lined up alone as anchor midfielder, can be accompanied by Frengkie de Jong. So, Busquest received protection from De Jong when exposed by opposing players.
Yes, Busquests is indeed an actor in Barca’s game in the midfield. However, the Barca captain is often a weak point due to his slowness in closing attacks in midfield. Hence, Busquests requires powerful players to overcome its weaknesses.
The change in formation is one of the proofs of Xavi’s success in dampening Madrid’s game. Hence, this first trophy is valuable because Xavi shows his class in balancing the quality of old coach Carlo Ancelotti. Barca’s success in winning the Spanish Super Cup trophy is very important for this Catalan team. This trophy can be a starting point for Barca to look at this season with optimism.
ASL
