Barcelona played their first Joan gamper without Leo Messi in front of the same Juventus that 17 years ago, in 2005, was an exceptional spectator of its explosion in the same tournament. The monumental footballer, through whom the story of the best Barça in history was written, was present at the Johan Cruyff stadium through speeches, ovations, shouts and memories. His imprint was as indisputable as it was alarming. His absence, now definitive, marked the presentation of a team, now new, different and orphaned. As much as the immediate future ventures.
The ‘new’ Barça won 3-0 against a Juve that seemed even less shot than the Barça team. Already peppered from the start by an obscene error, a loss in their midfield with hardly any defenses behind, which allowed Memphis to score 1-0, the Italian squad became in a certain way the best ally of the local players, who avoided, at least on this preseason night, the popular signal.
“Thank you Leo for everything you have done for Barça”, Busquets, the new captain, said goodbye in his initial speech, awakening the ovation of a hobby that did not forget the disappeared idol all day. Messi was not there but his figure flew over the Johan Cruyff stadium, turning the game into a simple procedure.
Few conclusions could be drawn from the game. If anything, confirm that the quality and appearance of Yusuf demir, assistant to Memphis at 1-0 and who completed 62 more than remarkable minutes, has won Koeman’s heart and that not only has passed him in front of Riqui PuigBut he can be a very player to be reckoned with.
And that the youth squad, always supported by the fans, closed the night with an excellent goal to be noticed and even though the coach has already made it clear how little confidence he has in him.
Koeman has more in Griezmann, now without dissimulation forced to take the leading role and wait three weeks to see if the whistles they already received during the presentation Umtiti, Coutinho Y Pjanic they are persuading them to find a way out. The French defender, who played the last half hour, suffered it twice …
Juventus was not, at all, a fearsome rival like the last one that passed like a cyclone through the Camp Nou under the spell of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese, less whistled than one might suppose by the local public, tiptoed through the game such as Morata, Ramsey or Cuadrado.
More friendly than ever, the game did not have an iota of controversy or harshness and as soon as a header, as magnificent as it is incomprehensible for its comfort, from Braithwaite served to place the final 2-0, any attempt to doubt was over.
Barça won without further ado. And without Messi. His name was heard and repeated on many occasions in an atmosphere more conformism than protest. However, it will be necessary to see the reaction of the fans, more common, at the Camp Nou.