"You won't forget tonight. Now is your time." The lyrics that Miki Núñez performed at the Camp Nou to open the curtain on a historic night of solidarity with a six-goal draw against ELA were not wrong. The season has already started, the market is still open, Xavi still has to complete his still unbalanced squad and Guardiola is greasing his pieces by putting together the best possible machinery. But next to this incurable disease, all football circumstances are diluted. Both clubs knew it and did not hesitate to give their 'I do' to Juan Carlos Unzué, exporter and coach who contracted this disease in 2019. The 91,062 spectators who showed up at the Camp Nou applauded him and they vibrated as before.
Although the ball and the result were secondary actors, there was football at the Camp Nou with both coaches outlining balanced elevens also thinking about their competitions. There was no duel Håland - Lewandowski because Xavi left the Pole, somewhat surprised, on the bench. Also to Pedri, Araújo and Dembélé. Guardiola did give Håland his moment in the second half. The Norwegian greeted and the Camp Nou reciprocated with affection. It's still a dream but the fans wanted to show him that maybe in the future he can be comfortable.
Xavi was also cautious in the Barça goal Ter Stegen gave way to Iñaki Peña, who had an intense night. It started bad. The ball slipped off the young goalkeeper and Julián Álvarez took advantage of his innocent mistake to make it 0-1. City did not celebrate and the Camp Nou sheltered their goalkeeper with loud applause. Peña vindicated himself in the second half with a double save of merit.
In this competitive balance Xavi and Guardiola did think about morbidity beyond their own presence by placing Frenkie de Jong and Bernardo Silva in the starting eleven. The Dutchman took it to heart before Barça's summer dream. De Jong took on a lot of prominence breaking lines and playing at a high level.
Barça and City will know this Thursday if they will meet in the Champions League. Some like Aubameyang will not be. Xavi wanted to give him his moment in the starting eleven and the Gabonese probably signed his last goal as a result of a rehearsed play. Raphinha's free-kick that extended Busquets with a header and that 'Auba' finished off with a volley to beat Ortega Moreno. It supposed the 1-1. He just celebrated it. He just raised his right fist. He was encouraged by his teammates, especially Kessié, another of the new players who made good recoveries against Phillips.
The sale of Aubameyang to Chelsea and that of another player is necessary for the club to register Koundé. Forceful, the French center-back saved an error in a pass that almost cost Palmer a goal. Next to him played Piqué. The Barcelona center-back was not the only captain. Apart from the undisputed Busquets, Xavi recovered Alba and Sergi Roberto for the cause.
It was a very special match for Roberto who lived closely with ALS, a disease contracted by his deceased mother. He started decisively and deep down the right flank and assisted Memphis at 3-2. Another one that you can leave. Yes, the Dutchman cheered him on with his classic celebration covering his ears and the fans chanted his name. Before, the Camp Nou celebrated two more goals against ELA. The first was Barça. De Jong put the finishing touch to his night masterfully hunting down a cross from Gavi that made it 2-1. City later claimed responsibility with a goal from Palmer.
The match had some suspense with the clash of heads between Christensen and Mbete forcing the medical assistance to enter the field. Five more minutes were added in which Mahrez leveled the game by beating Tenas from the penalty spot after Christensen's rigorous foul on Håland. The Barça players complained but afterwards all together they celebrated with Unzué the six goals against ELA. The story was about that. "We want to continue living and in a dignified way," said Unzué. He is now up to the political class.
