When, 14 years ago this week, Pep Guardiola embarked on his first job as a senior coach, he chose his allies carefully.
His goalkeeping coach at Barcelona, a role crucial to Guardiola’s play-from-the-back game plan, was Juan Carlos Unzue. The midfield tactician-in-chief was Xavi.
Guardiola had been a teammate of both, and as a novice manager making some bold decisions about who belonged – and who did not – in his Barca, he wanted sharp minds and trusted figures to bounce ideas off.
Xavi, the relative novice now in Guardiola’s old job at Barca, and his mentor, now the manager of Manchester City, meet as opposing coaches for the first time this evening in a fund-raising friendly match with the much-appreciated Unzue foremost in their thoughts.
Unzue was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, two and half years ago. Camp Nou is expected to be close to capacity to raise money for research into the disease.
The attendance will be swelled by a fascination at the coaches’ head-to-head, as Xavi embarks on his first full season as a coach in Europe, and Guardiola makes only his second appearance in the away team’s dugout at a stadium where, with two European Cups in his first three years, he launched his stellar managerial career.
He will receive a rousing welcome from a Camp Nou in elevated spirits. Barca’s season had its lift-off at the weekend, a 4-1 win at Real Sociedad spreading optimism that heavy spending, funded by the club’s long-term mortgaging of future revenue, has armed Xavi with a formidable side.
Robert Lewandowski, formerly under Guardiola’s watch during the striker’s prolific time at Bayern Munich, scored his first two Barcelona goals at La Reale following his €45 million move from Germany. The prodigy from the club’s academy, Ansu Fati, scored one and brilliantly set up another for Ousmane Dembele.
Newcastle 3 Manchester City 3 - player ratings
-
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope - 8, It’s not often you’ll see a goalkeeper get this score after conceding three, but Pope made a plethora of impressive saves and interventions, including tipping Erling Haaland’s effort on to the post and stealing the ball from Ilkay Gundogan’s toes. AFP -
Kieran Trippier - 6, Left Ilkay Gundogan alone in the box for the opener but went on to put in a strong defensive performance after that and scored a stunning free kick for Newcastle’s third. Was shown a red card for a cynical tackle on Kevin De Bruyne as he attempted to run through but it was downgraded to a yellow. Reuters -
Fabian Schar - 5, Could have done more to deny Gundogan for the opener and was booked for a late challenge on Phil Foden after being beaten to the ball. However, he battled well. Getty -
Sven Botman - 5, Some of his passing was off in the first half, but the Dutchman made a good header to find Callum Wilson in the opposition box, then made a good recovery after failing to deal with Phil Foden’s cross. Was saved by Pope after Haaland got behind him and struck over the crossbar. Action Images -
Dan Burn - 5, Put in a good defensive display for large periods but completely lost Bernardo Silva for Newcastle’s equaliser. Provided Botman with a good knockdown late on. Got away with an under-hit back pass in the final stages then went off after Botman kicked the ball into his face. Getty -
Joe Willock - 6, Gave the ball away cheaply leading to a good chance for City and he then made a good burst forward but waited slightly too long to play Wilson in. Put a good shift in. AFP -
Bruno Guimaraes - 7, Was booked inside eight minutes for a cynical foul on De Bruyne but did well to ensure he could make an impact without risking a second. Was unlucky not to get more after closing Rodri down. Getty -
Joelinton - 8, Got through so much impressive work in the middle both in attack and defence, encapsulated when he forced Kyle Walker into a mistake by pressing him at the end of the first half. Was booked for a late challenge on Haaland. Getty -
Miguel Almiron - 7, Hit a horrible shot over the crossbar after being teed up by Allan Saint-Maximin, but got his goal by touching the ball into the net with his thigh. Made a great run to cause panic for Ederson. Getty -
Callum Wilson - 7, Scuffed a shot straight into Ederson’s arms but then took a great touch and provided a composed finish to put Newcastle ahead. Getty -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 9, Troubled City’s defence all game and it was his running and quality final pass that created the openings for Newcastle’s first two goals. Then won the free kick for their third. AP -
SUBS: Chris Wood (Wilson, 70’) - 6, Had some good touches but no opportunities to get on the scoresheet. Getty -
Sean Longstaff (Willock, 70’) - 6, Got forward well to make a cross but it was blocked and worked hard for the team. Action Images -
Jacob Murphy (Almiron, 83’) – N/R, Put in some good work down the right to help his team earn the point. EPA -
Emil Krafth (Saint-Maximin, 94’) – N/R, Was beaten by Phil Foden but the cross came to nothing. Getty -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5, In addition to conceding three times, he was beaten to the ball by Almiron after coming out of his goal wildly, having to be bailed out by Joao Cancelo. EPA -
Kyle Walker - 3, Had a torrid time attempting to deal with Saint-Maximin and needed to do better in the build-up to both of the first two goals. Overhit his cross in the final seconds when City were attempting to work an opening for the winner. Getty -
John Stones - 3, His poor pass started the move that then saw him get beaten by Saint-Maximin for the first, and the Frenchman got past him too easily for the second. Was booked for sliding in to stop Saint-Maximin on the edge of his own box for the free kick that Trippier scored for Newcastle’s third. His quick thinking from the corner started the move that resulted in City’s second. AP -
Nathan Ake - 6, Was dominant on the ground and in the air before being forced off prematurely due to injury. Getty -
Joao Cancelo - 5, Was booked for a mistimed tackle on Almiron and he then did nothing to stop the Paraguayan scoring the equaliser. He slightly redeemed himself by making a great run and block to deny the same man. Reuters -
Kevin De Bruyne - 8, Had a good free kick attempt stopped by Pope. The Belgian’s cross created the chance for Haaland’s goal and he played an absolutely exquisite pass to find Bernardo Silva for the equaliser. Getty -
Rodri - 7, Hit two shots from range that did very little to trouble Pope and was unable to stop Newcastle breaking forward at times. Made a good header to deal with Trippier’s free kick delivery and did well to touch the ball into Haaland’s pass at the other end for City’s second. AFP -
Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Finished well for the opener after being afforded plenty of time in the Newcastle box and made some other good runs into dangerous areas. EPA -
Phil Foden - 6, Caused problems in the first half but was selfish and had a shot saved from a tight angle when Haaland was in space in Newcastle’s box. Was involved in lovely link-up play at times. EPA -
Erling Haaland - 7, His brilliant running despite being pulled back by Willock created a chance for De Bruyne but the Norwegian then snatched at an opportunity after good work from Gundogan. Was unlucky to see his shot tipped on to the post after coming up with a brilliant touch, but there was no stopping hi clinical finish that gave City hope. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 8, Showed brilliant composure and precision to pick out Gundogan for the opener. His under-hit pass almost got City in trouble but he made a great run and provided a tidy finish to equalise. EPA -
SUB: Ruben Dias (Ake, 21’) - 5, Was unable to stop Wilson putting Newcastle ahead then couldn’t keep his header down at the end of the first half. Unlucky to see his header go straight at Pope. EPA
On Wednesday, Lewandowski is likely to find himself sharing a pitch with Erling Haaland. The pair this summer left behind them two and half years of sustained duelling for the status of leading centre-forward in the Bundesliga. Since joining City from Borussia Dortmund, the Norwegian has three goals in as many Premier League outings for City.
But the most storied reunion is the two managers, men whose career trajectories coincide so closely. Guardiola, 51, and Xavi, 42, were both born in provincial Catalonia, and enrolled as schoolboys at Barca’s La Masia academy.
Once Guardiola’s 11-year, 263-match era as the tempo-setting midfielder for Barcelona was coming to its close, Xavi had already identified himself as the natural successor. Guardiola had captained the side, and featured in the club’s first European Cup triumph, in 1992.
Xavi’s last appearance in a Barca jersey as a player was in the 2015 Champions League final. As skipper, he lifted the trophy, his fourth European Cup with the club.
Guardiola spent some of his last playing days at Al Ahli in Qatar, the country where Xavi made the shift from footballer to coach at Al Sadd, leaving there last November to answer the call to take over at Barca.
When he did, Guardiola tried to put a brake on the comparisons: “Xavi is not my successor, he has to be himself,” he said.
Real Sociedad 1 Barcelona 4 - player ratings
-
BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 8. Captain for the game, but beaten by Isak’s fifth-minute equaliser. Fine stop from Moreno on 26 and an even better one from David Silva on 44. Beaten by a 53rd minute offside effort. The Merino/Silva combination meant he had to stay alert. Icon Sport -
Ronald Araujo 6. The centre-back played right-back again, providing width to the attack. Nowhere near Moreno amid confusion in the Barça defence. Booked after 50 minutes for pulling a player back. Icon Sport -
Andreas Christensen 8. Calm, collected and already looking like a smart signing for Barca. Getty Images -
Eric Garcia 7. Tried but couldn’t get close enough to Isak for La Real’s opener, but calmed as his side recorded a fine win. Icon Sport -
Alejandro Balde 8. The 18-year-old full-back charged forward over 100 metres in the first minute and set up Lewandowski for the opener. Showed Jordi Alba that there’s serious competition. AP Photo -
Gavi 6. Got into advanced positions, but Barcelona only had one shot on target in the first half. Moved the ball quickly and accurately, like many of his teammates. Involved in the third with a step over before Lewandowksi’s finish. Getty Images -
Pedri 9. Led counter attacks, his speed a danger. Beautiful ball to Gavi on 44, but his drive and ability to control the game – and his opposite David Silva must also be credited for doing the same – showed why he’s so highly rated. Getty Images -
Frenkie de Jong 6. Won the ball which led to the attack for the opening goal, but then lost the ball which led to the equaliser four minutes later. A lively start in a box-to-box first half for a man who continues to be linked with a move away. Getty Images -
Ousmane Dembele 8. Was fortunate to get away with elbowing an opponent after 12 minutes. Set up Torres on 23, then made a superb finish to put his side ahead after 65 minutes. Getty Images -
Robert Lewandowski 9. Scored his first goal in La Liga, sweeping in a Balde cross to finish a counter attack after 46 seconds. Chances thereafter – a first half header, a shot after bringing the ball down on 64, then made a straightforward finish to make it 3-1 after 68. Assisted the fourth with a backheel for Fati. Looked like the world class striker that he is. On his 34th birthday, too. Getty Images -
Ferran Torres 6. Returned to the line up and worked quickly to get a shot wide after 23. Came close to adding a second against the side with the third best defence in La Liga last season. Getty Images -
SUBS: Raphinha 7. On for Balde after 63 and involved in the set up for the third and swept the ball towards Lewandowski for the fourth. EPA -
Ansu Fati 9. On for Torres on 64 and what an impact. Outstanding backheel to set up Dembele for the second on 66, then set up Lewandowski for the third on 69. Scored himself, a calm finish from a tight angle to make it 4-1. Huge talent who has been missed – he was out for ten months last season. Getty Images -
Sergi Roberto NA. On for De Jong after 84. Getty Images -
Franck Kessie NA. On for Gavi after 84. AFP
But the parallels were compelling. The appointment of Xavi was made by Joan Laporta, recently returned to the Barca presidency for a second mandate. It was Laporta, in his first tenure, who elevated Guardiola from the club’s B team to take charge of the first team in 2008.
Guardiola kept Unzue on as his specialist goalkeeping assistant, but would make some radical changes in his first summer. Ronaldinho and Deco, two figureheads of the dressing room, were told they could leave.
So was Samuel Eto’o, a world-class centre-forward, although Eto’o stayed put and proved important in the dazzling Treble-winning campaign that Guardiola immediately oversaw.
“To be managed by Guardiola was to take a masterclass in coaching,” Xavi remembered of that time. Some of his mentor’s resolve can be glimpsed in the younger coach.
Xavi’s first full season in charge of Barca has already featured a starting line-up that had neither Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto or Sergio Busquets – the latter was suspended – in it, the first time that has happened since late 2020.
The long-serving quartet were all teammates of Xavi the player. They have learnt from Xavi the coach that, Busquets apart, there will be no favoured status.
