The question of the day was what would become of Barça (and LaLiga) without Messi and the answer was encouraging. Barça came out like a motorcycle against Real and Memphis, enrolled at the last minute thanks to the fact that Piqué agreed to drop the weld, thus allowing room for new hires, liked it a lot. He is not Messi, of course, he will not score 50 goals any year, but he is a brilliant player, who does things of merit, beauty and danger, and with hierarchy to move a team like Barça from the day of his arrival. Barça had an exquisite first 20 minutes, with an effort in recovery, dynamics and depth.
Nothing was like the first few minutes. In the second half, with the changes at halftime, Real got up and even threatened to get a goal away, but in the end Barça closed the game with a beautiful 4-2 and an air of hope. Braithwite made two and gave another, in his most convincing performance since he arrived at Barça, and Griezmann was generally well. Barça have lost a lot without Messi, but they have gained in variety and dynamics and the partner left happy. As Madrid also liked the day before and as the public has returned, the feelings after the first day are not depressing, but hopeful.
Atlético also returned firm, but this was expected. In his case there are no traumas, but the pride of the champion and the eternal zeal of the “day to day”. He won despite the VAR, whose role in the Vigo game deserves comment. Munuera, in the field, did not see a penalty. In the VAR was Medié, descended last year, but since he is 41 years old he can no longer go to Second, they have joined him in the VAR, like those retired by age. From there he entangled Munuera, who gave a penalty that according to last year’s rules would have been, but not with the last change. Similar, to make matters worse, to Lucas Vázquez’s move in Vitoria that was not indicated.