It was back on January 12, 2022, in Saudi Arabia when Barcelona fans first saw promise in a Xavi side.
The Catalans lost the game, a Clasico against Real Madrid, but the performance was Barcelona’s best of what had been a troubled season.
Lionel Messi had departed at its start, Antoine Griezmann, too. Sergio Aguero had to retire after barely playing. After a trio of 3-0 defeats, Barcelona failed to progress from their Champions League group for the first time since 2003, and had been as low as ninth in the league by October, prompting the dismissal of Ronald Koeman and the arrival of Xavi.
In Riyadh, a Barcelona side featuring a youthful forward line twice came from behind to make it 2-2 after 90 minutes, before Fede Valverde grabbed Madrid’s winner.
It barely mattered. Barca had been the better side and proved they could go toe-to toe with the runaway La Liga winners Madrid again.
Midfielder Gavi, 17, could match Casemiro, Luca Modric and Toni Kroos. Two months later, Barcelona went to the Bernabeu and won 4-0. A season later, they were Spanish champions once more.
However, the path has been far from smooth since, at a time when financial problems and stadium redevelopment have combined for one of the most turbulent periods in Barcelona’s history.
This season hasn't been a great one. They trail Real Madrid and Catalan neighbours Girona by seven points at the halfway stage of La Liga. They are also playing in front of lower than expected crowds at their temporary Olympic Stadium home.
True, they qualified from their Champions League group for the first time in three years, something about which Xavi pointedly asked why no journalist had congratulated him on last month. After all, Manchester United and Newcastle United, with far higher wage bills, had failed to get out of theirs. But Barcelona fans have been spoiled by success for 18 years.
This version is far from vintage. They’ve not won a game by more than one goal for 20 matches, the latest a 3-2 triumph over fourth-tier Barbastro on Sunday in the Copa del Rey. A stat went viral in Spain last week that showed if La Liga games were over at half time, Barcelona would be 14th in the league. The point is Barcelona take their time to get going and then struggle to control games when they do. They were leading 1-0 against Real Madrid in the October Clasico and lost 2-1 thanks to two Jude Bellingham goals.
Xavi talks up his side publicly, even if most fans have a lower opinion of what they’re seeing. Finally, he was critical of his players after the hard-fought 3-2 win against Almeria in December, when only 34,471 were present at the Olympic Stadium. The average crowd at Camp Nou last season was 82,000. The club optimistically hope their usual home will be partially ready to use by the end of this year.
A much-changed defence has struggled. Barcelona have conceded 22 goals in 19 games – against 20 in 38 last season. Jules Kounde, who played right-back last season, has not been as effective as a central defender – the position he wanted to play. Another defender struggling to reach the levels of last season is left back Alejandro Balde.
Up front, no player beyond Robert Lewandowski, who has been average by his own high standards, has scored more than three goals. The Pole is the only Barcelona player in the top 40 scorers in La Liga with seven. By comparison, Jude Bellingham has 13.
Barcelona continue to be in transition. This is the first full season without Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba – all mainstays of their numerous doubles and treble-winning teams.
The replacements have hardly inspired. Catalan midfielder Oriol Romeo, an honest, physical footballer, pales when compared to Busquets. On loan Joao Felix started well but has tailed off, though fellow new signing Ilkay Gundogan has impressed and Joao Cancelo has been their best defender.
Injuries have been a major issue. Gavi, a world-class central midfielder despite being only 19, tore his cruciate ligament in November. His fantastic foil Pedri, 21, has been restricted to eight starts from 19 league games with ongoing hamstring and muscle injuries.
Ronald Araujo, 24, the Catalans' best centre-back, has been hit by three injuries in the past year. Frenkie de Jong, perhaps the only player to have improved on last season, has missed two months of the campaign with a damaged ankle. Defender Inigo Martinez is also out injured, while goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been out with a back injury since November.
There have been positives – the emergence of Lamine Yamal, 16, and Fermin Lopez, 20, from a youth system that keeps on producing top-class players. They’ve played 25 and 19 games, respectively, so far this term in all competitions.
Barcelona play Osasuna, last season’s beaten Copa del Rey finalists, in Riyadh in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on Thursday night.
Osasuna – which means "health" in Basque – have never won a trophy in their 103-year history. The team hail from Pamplona, a wealthy, expanding city of 200,000 best known for the San Fermin 'Running of the Bulls' festival every July.
Osasuna, who are 12th in La Liga, will earn €2 million in prize money if they win the four-team tournament – a quarter of what any of the other three teams would receive. That has been criticised as not being fair – and with good reason – though Osasuna are the outsiders. They were defeated 2-1 at home by Barcelona in the league in September, and lost 4-0 to Real Madrid and 2-0 at home against Atletico.
The winners face Real Madrid, who beat City rivals Atletico 5-3 after extra time on Wednesday, in Sunday's final. Barcelona are the holders and how they could do with another lift from this tournament, played a long way from home.
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REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 7 – The Belgian was by far the busier of the two keepers. He could do little about any of the goals, and was left stranded by his defenders in two of them. Made some terrific saves, the best denying Lewandowski and Dembele. AFP -
Dani Carvajal 4 – The only Spaniard in Madrid’s starting line-up, both he and Militao were caught out in the most clinical fashion when, after pressing in the centre of the park, they were cut open by one pass before Lewandowski doubled Barca’s advantage. Substituted after 72 minutes. Getty Images -
Eder Militao 5 – A disappointing evening in which he was either caught out when attempting to press, or trying to hold the back line together when others also tried – and failed – to close down a rampant Barca. AFP -
Antonio Rüdiger 5 – Though he was left exposed by Militao and Carvajal in the build-up to the second goal, the German was also guilty of leaving Lewandowski to score by being pulled out of position in trying to close down Gavi. In the third, he stood off as Barca edged forward. Reuters -
Ferland Mendy 4 – Gave Benzema a great chance to open the deadlock with a teasing cross, but the Frenchman couldn’t convert. Soon after, he picked up the first yellow of the game when he pulled back Dembele. Poor evening overall. Getty Images -
Luka Modrić 5 – With Barcelona off to a fast start, the Croat tried to slow things down. It didn’t work. Barca were too quick and clinical on this occasion. Not surprisingly, he was substituted in the second half. AFP -
Federico Valverde 5 – Not effective playing on the right side of the centre. In fact, he barely saw much of the ball, and couldn’t deal with Alejandro Balde. AFP -
Eduardo Camavinga 5 – On a night where Camavinga was among the bright young talents on the pitch, he was overshadowed by Pedri and Gavi. AP Photo -
Toni Kroos 5 – Not the most auspicious of performances from the German who, as a sign of things to come in this game, gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area early on. He cut a frustrated figure throughout, and with Barca dominating he made his displeasure to his teammates known. Got caught out with weak pressing in the second half. Totally outplayed. AFP -
Karim Benzema 7 – He had several of Madrid’s best chances and so it was probably only fair that when Madrid did find the net, albeit with a consolation goal, that he was the man to claim it. Getty Images -
Vinicius Junior 6 – Only really started to make an impact in the last 20 minutes with the game already gone. Kounde and Araujo did a pretty good number on him. Getty Images -
SUBS: Rodrygo (Camavinga, 46) 7 – Had a cracking effort from the edge of the area but it was palmed to safety by Ter Stegen at full stretch. Brought some energy to the Madrid side in the second half. Reuters -
Dani Ceballos (Modric, 65) 6 – Another who will feel he should have started, though he was at fault in the build-up to Barca’s third. AFP -
Marco Asensio (Kroos, 72) N/A – Had a pop from distance soon after coming on, but it didn’t trouble Ter Stegen. Getty Images -
Nacho Fernandez (Carvajal, 72) N/A – The Spaniard was an upgrade when he came on, though Barca had taken their foot off the gas at that stage. An odd choice to bring him on with Real chasing a goal, though. Getty Images -
BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7 - Almost another clean sheet – Benzema’s 93rd minute goal changed that – but Xavi won his first trophy as Barcelona manager and the Catalans won Spain’s Super cup for the first time in five years. AFP -
Alex Balde 8 - Teen full-back continued to do well and again started over Alba. His run to burst past Carvajal and set up Dembele with a clear goalscoring chance was his best moment. Cunning when he needed to be, too. Had the better of Valverde. Reuters -
Jules Kounde 8 - Supported Araujo in marking Vinicius Jr. Barça’s defence is the best in La Liga and has conceded only six goals – yet three were against Madrid in the league. The roles were reversed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for this Spanish Super Cup final. AP Photo -
Andreas Christensen 8 - Injury and non-selection meant his Barcelona career took time to get going, but he’s now establishing himself as a central defender in Xavi’s best XI. Calm. Getty Images -
Ronald Araujo 8 - Came close to connecting with a sixth minute free kick. Handled Vinicius Junior well, aggressively marking him and getting the better of him most of the time. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets 8 - Clever thinking to win the ball from Madrid and put in motion the first goal. Played in Lewandowski for a 54th minute chance. Miles better than any Madrid midfielder as he knocked the ball around them. Reuters -
Frenkie de Jong 8 - Box to box. Attacked yet dropped deep alongside Busquets when needed. Worked well with Gavi and Pedri, the best example being when he won the ball in the middle and started the move which led to the second. Complete performance. Getty Images -
Gavi 9 - Put Barça ahead after 33 minutes, with a fine first touch before staying on his feet and sliding the ball past Courtois. Assisted Lewandowski, putting the ball to him right in front of goal, for the second. Attacked, defended, ran and ran. Outstanding off the ball. Man of the match. AFP -
Pedri 8 - Played as a No 10. Involved in the first goal as Barcelona’s young midfield ran the show. Scored the third after 69 minutes, a simple finish. Another top class performance. AFP -
Ousmane 7 - Another of the Barcelona players who looked hungrier and more energetic than their opponents. Kept Mendy concentrating. Shot with his right foot on 54 minutes, but Courtois saved well. Getty Images -
Robert Lewandowski 7 - Coming back to fitness. Headed over and then assisted Gavi for the opener, then scored his first ever clasico goal. It’s now 20 goals in 22 matches for his new club. Getty Images -
SUBS: Raphinha - 6 On for Dembele on 78. Hit and miss at Barcelona so far this season, he came on when the game was won in front of the 57,340 crowd. Getty Images -
Eric Garcia - NA On for Araujo after 89. Getty Images -
Ansu Fati - N/A On for Gavi after 89. Getty Images -
Sergi Roberto - N/A On for Pedri after 89. Getty Images
