Dani Olmo celebrated Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup title enthusiastically, with his successors Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, Eric Garcia and Pau Victor pointing their index fingers to each other’s wrists in a gesture to ask the time – Olmo celebrating his goal.
Yamal then pushed Olmo towards the photographers so he could have his moment and, with a half-smile, did the celebratory move he shared with NBA player Damian Lillard, then reached for the shield on his jersey, gave it a kiss and with two fingers made the symbol of survival.
The message was clear: Olmo would stay with Barcelona. Afterwards, his drama partner Bao Victor looked for him and hugged him. Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup 5-2 and, more importantly, their future at the club looks secure.
Olmo and Victor traveled to Saudi Arabia about a week ago not knowing if they would be able to play or if they would return to Europe knowing they would have to leave the club. They traveled without being registered, and their last hope was a decision from the CSD (Consejo Superior de Deportes) that would allow them to stay in Barcelona and not have to look for another team.
Barcelona crushed Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
The failure to register players led to the shaking of the Catalan club’s board of directors, especially Joan Laporta. But finally, on the same day that Hansi Flick’s side played their semi-final match against the Athletic Club, it was announced that the CSD had granted precautionary measure, allowing the duo to continue at Barcelona.
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Amidst all this chaos, Barcelona played three times, and Flick was able to create an oasis of calm on the field that kept the external noise away from the sporting process. Against both UD Barbastro in the Copa del Rey and against Athletic Club, Barcelona registered comfortable victories, but the icing on the cake was undoubtedly Sunday’s final against Real Madrid.
Dani Olmo celebrates the Super Cup (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The previous Clásico in October was one of Flick’s best games of the season, beating Carlo Ancelotti’s side 4-0, although it also heralded the start of a poor La Liga campaign. But Christmas has come at the right time for the team, and they look rejuvenated, as Real Madrid have discovered.
This is the first time Barcelona have scored at least four goals in consecutive matches against their arch rival, and from the start of the match, you could sense that this was going to be Flick’s masterpiece in his time as Barcelona coach. The team understood what the German was looking for and implemented it to perfection.
The match did not start ideally, as Kylian Mbappé scored the first goal in the fifth minute from a counterattack. But that did not bother Barcelona, who bounced back with a Yamal goal that reminded them of Lionel Messi at his best.
Yamal’s goal was reminiscent of Lionel Messi’s goal (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
This was followed by Robert Lewandowski’s goal from the penalty spot, before Rafinha and Alejandro Balde made it 4-1 at half-time. Rafinha scored again in the second half, leaving Ancelotti’s side reeling. Despite the red card for Wojciech Szczesny – who started in goal ahead of Iñaki Pena thanks to an impressive performance against Athletic Club in the semi-final – Barcelona did not suffer. Rodrygo scored from the resulting free-kick on the hour mark but Real Madrid never recovered from the shock of the first 50 minutes.
Yamal is 17 years old and is already a player who, with a performance like this, could challenge for the Ballon d’Or, as surreal as that may sound. In Barcelona, some wonder if he is better than Messi at the same age.
But the victory was not only thanks to the brilliant Yamal, but also thanks to Balde and Rafinha, as well as the experience of Lewandowski – who provided a very good assist for Yamal to make it 1-1. Javi started in place of Olmo and also played a key role, including winning a penalty. Meanwhile, Pedri kept the team calm and Mark Casado was as accurate as ever in the pivotal role.
Lewandowski scored a goal and an assist (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
In the second half, Pena, who made two good saves, and Ronald Araujo, who once again neutralized Vinicius Junior, played a key role in defense alongside Pau Cobarci. It has been less than a year since he made his debut for the club, yet he is already a key figure in the team.
Elements of the post-match celebrations were surreal. Barcelona’s squad is so small that instead of the players’ children joining in, it was the parents who walked out. The highlight was the appearance of Robert Coparsi, Bao’s father, who added to the joyful scene by sliding down to his knees.
Flick has brought calm to a club that is in constant chaos. He extinguishes the flames with slow, soothing speech and a calmness that he is able to convey to his players. The team was affected by the attitude of Pau Victor and Olmo, but Flick was the insulating material that protected them from what was happening.
When the German arrived at the club, he noticed the tense atmosphere resulting from several unpleasant situations that had occurred in the previous season. He took it upon himself to be a close, communicative and reassuring figure. He told the Barcelona players that this is just a job and you should enjoy it, and that the day they stop enjoying it, it will be time to leave. He has created an atmosphere in the dressing room where the players are enjoying playing football again.
The importance of this victory can be explained by the tears of Rafa Yuste and Joan Laporta after the match. Fireworks went off in the streets of Barcelona on Sunday evening. The Spanish Super Cup may be the least important title of the season, but a win over Real Madrid is always a moment worth celebrating.
(Top image: Jose Britton/Bakees Action/Norphoto via Getty Images)
