Hansi Flick said in the preview that you can’t smile every day. But Barça fans have been doing nothing else since the league started. Three wins in three matches. Monday’s 5-2 win against Rayo Vallecano. Raphinha, who scored a brace, keeps smiling non-stop. Gordon smiles, indispensable. And, on the third try, Lamine Yamal finally smiled. Immersed in a wave of relief and rage, the Rocafonda native slid across the Camp Nou pitch seeking the fans’ embrace. His goal, after Raphinha’s first, was a turning point. It confirmed the Barça comeback against a Rayo that, without knowing how, had taken the lead. Gordon’s selfless magic, the new idol of the Barça stronghold, caused the 3-1 own goal by Lejeune. Camello closed the gap with 3-2. Raphinha, relentless, assisted the fourth of the night and the unstoppable Lamine completed the thrashing, handing Barça’s leadership on a silver platter. This Barça, the one that adds points three by three, is unstoppable.
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The theory of three kept being fulfilled in mathematician Flick’s mind. Rotations came in the third match to rest three starters: Eric, Gerard Martín, and Fermín. Koundé entered at right-back and Christensen, who debuted alongside Cubarsí in the third different central defensive pairing so far this season. Olmo comfortably took charge of the attacking midfield on the third try.
But some things never change. Unless there is bad news. Fatal if we consider it concerns Lamine Yamal’s presence. The winger was in a hurry to recover his best form after ending last season injured and after going from less to more in the World Cup. Demanding as few are, he was the last to leave the pre-match against Rayo. According to reports, he scored two great goals. The same number he scored against Rayo. He was practicing. Always under Raphinha’s embrace, who continues playing as a number nine… and captain, with Gabriel Jesus watching from the stands.
Unstoppable, the Brazilian suffered a foul from Álvaro García to stop his progress right after the ball started rolling. There was no yellow card and Álvaro apologized. But there was no other way to stop him. Judging by his performance—Raphinha leads, presses, and takes corner kicks with determination, besides trying venomous shots from the edge of the box—he will hardly leave that position.
Just like Gordon, on his left, turned into his Sancho Panza and, therefore, the new idol of Camp Nou. A matter of energy. They also sing to Pedri and Bernal, who show clairvoyance like fortune tellers, making the most of every minute Rodri stays on the bench. That place where Balde does not leave because no one can move Xavi Espart from left-back. Or from the wing. Or wherever he is needed.
Amid so much Barça power, the attacks began. A cut with the outside of Lamine’s left foot, seeking a cross to the far post served by Pedri, was the first great chance at Cárdenas’ goal.
It was a matter of time. Because Rayo did not know how to defend. Barça did not let them breathe. But, when Beñat San José’s team was having the worst time, Álvaro García broke through and easily surpassed Koundé. He passed the ball back to an experienced Sergio Camello, whom Christensen also could not reach. Camello caused a surprise at Camp Nou.
One action, one goal. Such a score was incomprehensible, especially because the feeling of Barça’s siege did not stop. Olmo flicked a Pedri cross and Raphinha tried to finish it. Even Christensen dared. And Gordon. And Lamine, at the far post. And Olmo again. Cárdenas got tired of deflecting possible goals to corners. There was a lack of clarity in the small area. But it was a matter of minutes. And football justice.
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And it was, again, of course, Raphinha who took the ball with the captain’s armband to start the comeback. He received the ball inside the area and made it clear to Camp Nou, to Cárdenas, and to Pathé Ciss. The ball came from Espart, turned into an infiltrated winger.
The 10’s goal was missing. And it was a great goal. Bernal had recovered the ball and told his friend: “Come on, try it.” And the Rocafonda native finished it. Camp Nou exploded. And so did the bench, with Flick raising his fist. Lamine’s control was delightful: two touches, a defiant look at Cárdenas, and the ball nailed in the left top corner. He had just scored his first goal of the season. The 50th of his career with Barça, in 154 matches. And at 19 years old, don’t forget.
In two minutes, Barça had scored two deserved goals. And calmed down until embracing halftime, although there was time for a shot from Bernal from his kitchen at home in Berga, a shot he usually practices in training and that Cárdenas barely touched with his fingers. Meanwhile, a downcast Koundé scored the third. The Frenchman did not celebrate, quite apathetic, perhaps aware it would not count because he was offside.
Rayo did not want to be finished off and pushed their lines forward, with Lejeune stalking Pedri and having a very good half. But their fight died at Gordon’s feet, who sought the perfect cross for Raphinha. Unrestrained, Lejeune arrived and scored an own goal. Camp Nou cheered Gordon for the umpteenth time. Without him, it would not have happened.
There was a final stretch of excitement. Camello headed in from a corner to make it 3-2, after beating an innocent Espart at the near post, although, by seniority and his 100 matches with Barça, Christensen should have taken more responsibility. A warning for Barça’s defense, which had Rodri the leader and empowered Fermín in the last quarter of an hour. Also Adeyemi and Joan Garcia, who, after not clearing a Fran Pérez shot well in a defensive mistake, showed his instinct against Camello.
Between Gordon and Fermín, they fought for the fourth. It did not come. But Raphinha appeared to score his second brace of the season and the 4-2, finishing with his left foot the gift from Gordon, his faithful squire. The Brazilian already has five goals. One more than Mbappé. In matchday 3. Who would have told Camp Nou that.
But the final touch was missing. The masterstroke. Adeyemi looked up and saw Lamine, who scored the brace Messi-style: with a placed shot crossing the entire area. The 10 is back. Lamine smiles and everyone smiles.
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