The latest victory for FC Barcelona comes in the form of a Spanish Super Cup win in Saudi Arabia. Xavi’s men managed to overcome Jagoba Arrasate’s CA Osasuna with a 2-0 scoreline in their semi-final. However, there is more to this victory than meets the eye for the Catalans.
Heading into this game, Barcelona had neither been consistent enough nor convincing enough to be labeled as definite favorites. The Catalan giants had been far from their best this season, and some nervousness definitely lingered. In fact, a very unfortunate record was also being carried by them.
Since the last 114 days, Barcelona have been unable to win a game by more than a singular goal. All the victories since Barça’s 5-0 triumph over Royal Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League group stage have come with a single-goal margin. The exact timeline of that last convincing victory dates back all the way to September.
21 games, in total, had passed between that victory over Antwerp and the latest clash against Osasuna. However, as Mundo Deportivo also points out, that unfortunate record has finally been put to an end.
With this latest victory, Barcelona winning 2-0 allowed them to overcome an opponent with more than just a goal. While these statistics do not mean much in the grand scheme of things, particularly in cup competitions, they still matter.
For a club like Barcelona, they are important in terms of their goal difference in the league. Moreover, they also reflect the kind of football that Barça has been playing recently.
Despite their almost endless supply of chances and opportunities, scoring has been complex for Barcelona this season. However, perhaps with this ongoing Spanish Super Cup campaign, Xavi’s side can find their shooting boots again. Confidence is key when it comes to scoring goals, and maybe Barcelona can find reinvention in Saudi Arabia.
