Hhello again. If there was a moment that Joan Laporta’s return to the Barcelona presidency really began to feel, it was probably the morning of December 15 when a giant banner was hung covering the facade of a 15-storey building with the view of the Santiago. Bernabéu. On it was a picture of the candidate smiling, a familiar gleam in his eye and the slogan: “Looking forward to seeing you again.” On Saturday, he will for the first time in more than a decade.
The idea comes from Laporta’s campaign manager Lluis Carrasco. Initially, the slogan would be: “A good team needs a great competitor.” But Laporta suggested something more, well, Laporta: optimistic, bold, shamelessly anti-Madridista and playfully challenging. No complex about his club or Catalan nationalism, its importance is especially seen in the reaction of some in the Spanish capital, which could only make his supporters like him more.
Above all, it was a reminder of better times, to whom they were and what they did, especially there; the moments when they really enjoyed seeing Madrid. And if everyone can add it too if it’s as good as it can get. Heavy on nostalgia, the revival of the glory days, it certainly worked. Last month, Laporta won a landslide victory in the election.
In 2009, Laporta sat in the Bernabéu when Barcelona beat Madrid 6-2 and later described it as the “seventh title” of their historic six-trophy year. His legacy was the team that beat Madrid 5-0 and won another European Cup, although his last clásico was a 2-0 victory in April 2010, heading for another league. It’s Valdebebas this time, not the Bernabéu. And Laporta has been sitting with Florentino Pérez since revealing to RAC1 during a funeral that Madrid’s president had saved him a seat and joked: “I like to keep my enemies close.” Now, 11 years later, Laporta is the chairman of a classic again.
His return has changed things, albeit only emotionally, an optimism. A feeling that football might be fun again, that the future does not have to be feared quite as much. The feeling is deepened and is largely driven by the fact that things have improved dramatically on the scene – not that he can take credit for it, not that Barcelona’s deep structural crisis has been resolved or that anyone is under any illusions about the seriousness of the situation or unaware of it that team has gone.
The election was called after Josep Maria Bartomeu was forced to retire, and amid a run of poor results and even worse performances, Barcelona were 12th, closer to the relegation zone than the top. They came last season from the 8-2 draw against Bayern Munich, from Lionel Messi who tried to walk away and lost as many games as they won. Although they would improve, they were still ten points off the top at the end of January, after playing one game more. “We are not able to win much,” admitted manager Ronald Koeman.
Now, somehow, they are. They are both. Win the classic and Barcelona will be the top for the first time in 293 days. Even a draw will do it at least temporarily. If Madrid win, they will be the best for the first time in 151 days. Spain are used to it being the deciding game of the season, but this time it did not have to be that way. Still, the winner will be the favorite to win the league.
That would be Atlético’s title. They have been on top for four months. But their lead slipped through their fingers. They have won four of their last ten league games when Barcelona and Madrid revived. Madrid have won 43 of the last 54 points, Barcelona have won 51 of 57. Barcelona are in the Copa del Rey final next Saturday. Madrid have taken an important step towards the Champions League semi-final.
Zidane found refuge in the old guard, in a midfield that might still be the best in the world. Nacho and Lucas Vázquez replied, as they so often do. On Tuesday, there was also a sense of discovery in Vinícius Júnior’s exhibition against Liverpool. Marco Asensio returns. Karim Benzema is better than ever. Madrid reacted when it had to, which tended to be their way: the side that lost to Alcoyano, Levante, Alavés, Shakhtar Donetsk and Cádiz, who could not defeat Osasuna or Elche, had Atlético, Barcelona, Liverpool , Sevilla and Internazionale beaten. .
Two seasons in the making, Zidane was on the verge of sacking; it could be two more seasons in which he ends up as league champion, or even more. There was no way Koeman stayed; now it does not seem like he can go.
The Dutch have accepted the need, tried things and are willing to stick to it if they work, lose players and find solutions. He moved through formations and unexpectedly showed flexibility at the start of the season. 4-2-3-1 became 4-3-3, and then three behind. He found that the children, even if they were a chance, were fine. Ronald Araújo, Óscar Mingueza and especially the impassive, impeccable Pedri shone. Frenkie de Jong found himself. Ousmane Dembélé looks like a soccer player. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets may not be destined for the painting.
And Messi, well, he’s Messi – and that’s all. He has scored 16 times in 13 games, again the best player in Spain and somehow. He also looks happy and seems to see something in the young players, kids worthy of a team to believe in. The optimism surrounding Barcelona thus extends to the growing belief that Messi will remain, which has always been Laporta’s most important promise.
Yet there is no hard evidence to substantiate this, and a basic fact cannot be escaped: at the end of the season, Messi will be out of contract. Just like at the end of the season, Sergio Ramos will be without a contract. This may be the Argentine last classic. Injured, the Spaniard could have already played his. Laporta is back, but it might not be. They could stay; the fact that they are not allowed is symbolic, the passage of time, the inevitable change and loss. Unexpectedly, this match could definitely win the title, just as it was supposed to, but everyone knows it’s different now.
By next season, two of only five players left from the 22 who started last classic Laporta attended as president could be away (although Benzema was on the bench that night), including the man he most desperately wants to stay. Both club captains may have left, the end of an era; an era that made them happy, one that the returning president clings to. He is not alone: it is one that everyone, at some level, does.
“I do not hope he goes,” Zidane said of Ramos. “I hope not either,” Zidane said when asked about Messi.