Barça's great performance deserved a miracle

Xavi would have loved to have coached Messi and Messi would have loved to be coached by Xavi. But it didn’t happen. However the Argentine hailed Xavi’s arrival from Paris. They shared a dressing room for 11 years and they helped construct the best Barça in history. Circumstances impeded their re-encounter but love and respect has remained. They are both living new adventures. 

Maybe their paths will cross in the Champions League. Who knows? First Barca have to head to Munich to win to qualify. On December 8 they face the almighty Bayern and need to win or at least replicate the result Benfica get against the down and out Dynamo.

Barcelona played a spectacular first half against Benfica. With intensity, speed, pressure, recovery. Just lacking a goal. But the team shone like it has not for some time. They worked together and had an attacking mentality fit for a champion side. Xavi’s hand was noted in the line up with Demir and the 3-4-3 system. Busquets shone. Nico shone. Gavi shone. It was perfect, bar the goal. An unfair 0-0 was on the scoreboard at half-time.

Barça needed to score. Only victory was valid. The one result to book a ticket to the next round. And Xavi risked Dembele. He was great in the final third of the game but not enough to find the way to goal. They have scored two in five European games. That says it all. However this great game on Tuesday deserved the miracle.