So read the words on the back of the celebratory jerseys donned by Barca. It was a historical win. 99 points, the most by a Liga team to win. One loss in the entire season, none at home.
Barca’s win over Valladolid was deemed necessary after a disappointing Champions League and Copa Del Rey exit. Some amount of nerves could be seen initially. But as the match wore on there appeared one last exposition of the finest football. We were all beneficiaries.
A season that saw repeated editions of Leo Messi’s masterclasses in total football annihilation. Again witnessed today against Real Vallodolid. The Pichichi was a foregone conclusion, the real interest was whether he would break El Fenomeno’s record.
Xavi was in street clothes. No matter. Messi commandeered a vast swath using the services of Yaya Toure, Seydou Keita, Bojan, and Pedro to transform a gentle swell to a roiling surge breaking at Valladolid’s shores. An own goal got it moving. Messi then set up Pedro before he came up on his brace. No Drogba like pouts or sulks.
Javier Clemente who had said that they “would come like pitbulls” could not save his club from relegation.
So we come up on the end of a remarkable season. And as we look to the future, many will ask the same question- can Barca be stopped?
Pedro, Bojan, and Messi- the three up front have few annual rings. Their youth ensures many seasons. Behind them Iniesta and Xavi, fuel the creative cauldron with their tight interlocking game and vision. Some injury concerns of late may introduce a sense of vulnerability but there is no real alarm at least for the next two seasons.
One big reason for their success is the defense giving up the least number of goals. Sergio Busquets who brings his theatrical abilities to the holding midfielder role has consolidated his position. Yaya Toure might be looking elsewhere. But Pique and Puyol are the pillars on central defense while Dani Alves always rates a shade less than Maicon as the world’s best right back. Gael Clichy is linked as a possible answer to their left back problems as Maxwell is considered lightweight.
It is frightening to contemplate Barca’s lock on the Liga might be set in stone for some years. A vast gulf separates Barca from the rest of the Liga. Even Real’s individual talent which is exceptional cannot compare in the face of the system put into place at Barca. Real’s mistake of putting too much investment on expensive hired guns might be enough to overcome the rest of the Liga. But as proven in both Clasicos, it is not enough.
The name that shall not be mentioned is the antidote. The Special One will remind Barca as he did so well with Inter, their fear of the “other”. But first the Clive Barker of football will make sure that the Merengues give up their self consciousness and engage in calculated anti football. Someone like Raul Albiol will not survive.
A difference of 30 points between these two teams and the rest of the Liga is not a statistical anomaly, it speaks of a structural difference in terms of talent and money. Introduction of a more even handed distribution of TV revenues will be essential in restoring parity to the Liga.