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Thursday 9 March 2017

Miracles Do Happen!

I have not written anything specific for past 6 years and I decided to break that when I saw the Champions League Round of 16 match yesterday – that is right – MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!

This is the comeback to end all comebacks!

It was a saddening February night for Barcelona fans when their team succumbed to a 4-0 defeat in Paris. I do not remember such a wretched Barcelona performance in my recent memory. After that dull night in Paris, Barcelona unconvincingly beat Leganes in Camp Nou, and struggled to go past Atletico Madrid in Vicente Calderon to regain some confidence in La Liga. Then came March. 6 goals against Sporting Gijon and 5 goals against Celta Vigo in Camp Nou to rehearsal the act which might be needed against the Parisian club to make a miracle, which has never happened in the history of Champions League football – to turn around a 4-0 deficit from first leg.

Luis Enrique, the outgoing Barcelona boss claimed that, “If PSG can score four goals against us, we can score six”, nobody believed. He also claimed, “In 95 minutes, an infinite amount of things can happen. I am convinced that at some point we will be close to qualifying. That is not to say we will do it, but that we will be close. And, when you are close, our confidence will soar and theirs could start to diminish.

Another Luis from Barcelona, this time the Uruguayan, Suarez claimed, “We are aware that it is a difficult situation to turn the tie around, but in football nothing is impossible, we have to be convinced that we can do it. If there is a team that can score four goals, I think it is Barcelona but with our philosophy of how to play and controlling the game”.

The stage was set. However, not sure of Barcelona progressing knowing that an away goal by PSG can still knock the complete confidence out of Barcelona.

Luis Suarez and Barcelona got off a dream start with a goal in 3rd minute, Andres Iniesta’s class and persistence made it 2-0 before the break, and a Lionel Messi penalty in 50th minute made it 3-0. Then on the 62nd minute, nothing but all Barcelona dreams were shattered by that brilliant Edinson Cavani goal. Now Barcelona need 3 goals to make the miracle happen. Barcelona died in Paris, revived in Barcelona until 62nd minute, and then died again! Neymar Junior and Suraez went to referee’s book after losing the plot, and Barcelona wilted facing the improbable task. Then came the miraculous act in 7 minutes and 17 seconds – a sumptuous free kick by Neymar Junior in 88th minute, a Neymar Junior penalty in 91st minute and a Sergi Roberto goal in 95th minute. Barcelona revived again!

Barcelona died on a Valentine’s Day night in Paris, revived on International Women’s day night in Camp Nou. YES, MIRACLES DO HAPPEN.

I have seen brilliant comebacks in football. Manchester United hit 2 stoppage time goals in Camp Nou to claim Champions League against Bayern Munich, Liverpool trailing 3-0 at half time went on to win Champions League against AC Milan in Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul. Nevertheless, Barcelona’s victory against PSG is above all those comebacks for a simple reason – at 3-1 up in the 88th minute, that Barcelona needed THREE goals and they did it.

Go back and read Luis Enrique’s words again; “If PSG can score four goals against us, we can score six.  In 95 minutes, an infinite amount of things can happen. I am convinced that at some point we will be close to qualifying. That is not to say we will do it, but that we will be close. And, when you are close, our confidence will soar and theirs could start to diminish.

So true and now, everyone believes.

This is the reason why I love football; this is the reason why I love Barcelona!
As Sir Alex Ferguson rightly quoted, “Football, bloody hell”!

It is to be noted that Neymar Junior is slowly coming out of the shadows of Lionel Messi to become the heir of Messi, and if Neymar can produce consistent performances like this, you could soon hear the Camp Nou faithful roaring for their new Brazilian maestro.

Salutes to Barcelona, their team spirit, Luis Enrique and MSN.


9th March, 2017
After watching Barcelona beat PSG in CL Round of 16

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Kollammm :-) Kodusss..

But... My only problem is ... I am a hardcore fan of Real Madrid C.F ...

Chelsea il nammal onnichallayirunno... Then, how could this happen !!! :-(

Bestson Ronald Boss K

Anonymous said...

Well written dude. Insane football it was! reminding the istanbul comeback or the most famous 1999 CL Final comeback!

Arshu said...

Nicely written brother.. Indeed it was the best comeback in the history of football and that shows the beauty of this game.

Though am a RM supporter, take a bow Barca this time :)

Trequartista said...

Thanks Bets :-)
Never mind which club you support, love football.

Mourinho's Chelsea was amazing to watch. If PSG had either Cech, JT, or Lamps in their line-up, they would not have melted in Camp Nou like this.

Trequartista said...

@ devilsoldier,
Thanks :-)
very true, insane football.
Those two are the immediate memories when you think of comebacks...

Trequartista said...

@ Arshu,
Thanks :-)

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