Don’t get caught up in Barcelona hyperbole
By Ben Carter, 31 May 2011 Ben Carter is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- barcelona, Barcelona FC, Craig Foster, European football, football, Pep Guardiola, SBS, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Champions League final

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts after scoring his third goal against Arsenal. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
I got up at 6.45am on Sunday morning – set my alarm and everything – expecting to see the last 15 minutes of this year’s Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United. What I got was UEFA president Michel Platini handing the cup over to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who raised it aloft.
So, Barca won then…
Fortunately, the SBS lads took those-who-missed-it-all through the goals, and it must be said that they were blistering strikes, and all seemingly from a fair way out as well, a good sign that modern forwards can still hit ‘em hard.
Anyway, barely three minutes after that first image of the cup being presented to Barcelona, SBS chief analyst Craig Foster launched into his now apparently usual Bill Lawry-esque la-la moment, declaring the Catalan side to be “the best ever,” the “greatest of all-time” and “from another planet” – where they still play football, funnily enough.
The game played by Barcelona was “absolutely pure,” according to the Fozz. Whatever that means.
Now, before any fellow Roarers get hackled-up about me, I must say that I admire Fozzie’s passion for the world game. I can also understand why he likes Barcelona – they supplied a fair slice of Spain’s World Cup-winning XI and have just won a fourth European Cup. But how can Fozz, on national telly, state that these guys are virtually the most ultra-evolved human beings on earth in such a split-second?
“A triumph for artistry, patience, imagination… Magnificent, actually,” said Rick Williams in London’s Guardian. That’s fair enough. Again, I’m not denying the result – even United boss Sir Alex Ferguson reckoned it was the best opposition he’d met in the last 25 years at this level – but one does wonder exactly how, statistically I mean, football fans and media pundits can make such sweeping statements so easily.
Football seems to be, at times, made up more of the personalities and the memorable matches, rather than quantifiable individual performances. Maybe that’s why it’s never quite gripped the average United States sports fan – it’s a very socialist activity, with everyone working together towards the aim of scoring a single quantifiable event – a goal. Yet, glance at the plethora of stats for a baseball, gridiron, basketball match and there’s plenty to chew on for comparison’s sake. Capitalism at its best – me first, etc.
Or, let’s use the cricketing analogy for something closer to home. Does anyone really recall many truly great one-day international contests? Twenty20s? Or even The Ashes? Sort of. They can become a bit of a blur, though. What do stand out are that dogged innings from Steve Waugh against England at wherever, the time Dean Jones pushed through sickness against India in season something or other…
When Ricky Ponting held aloft that little urn after being handed it by some cricketing administrator or another at the Sydney Cricket Ground after the 5-0 Test win in 2007, did Richie Benaud instantly claim that the Aussie XI would not only beat Don Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles, but also Warwick Armstrong’s side of the 1920s, and the 1970s Windies, and everyone else, and so on? Of course not. But at least there are series batting and bowling averages for fans to dip into and make imaginative merriment with.
That’s not the same in football, or at least, it didn’t feel like it to me when I heard Fozzie’s super-lauding of Barca. According to UEFA.com, the following categories applied in it’s official match statistics section related to Saturday’s final: goals scored, shots on target, shots off target, corners won, percentage of overall ball possession, fouls committed, yellow cards and red cards earned. I suppose what I’m asking is, is that enough?
I’d like to know exactly how, in an obvious moment of absolute Catalunyan adulation, Craig Foster could say that the 2011 ECL-winning Barcelona XI would undoubtedly beat – all things being equal, man for man – the Man United side of 1999, Real Madrid of 1960, Liverpool of 1984 and AC Milan of 1989, the Ajax of 1972, the Celtic of 1967, Notts Forest 1979, the George Best United of 1968? And, by ‘eck, even Barcelona 2006? (all listed among the top 30 XIs since the game began by The Daily Mail in a 2009 feature). That is a huge call to make, Sir.
“No disgrace for United to be beaten by the best club side in history,” said the Mirror’s Mike Colvin.
“Barcelona answered the call of history, and ended football’s most enticing debate. The identity of the greatest club side was revealed… A team that deserves to be rated beyond Pele’s Santos, Di Stefano’s Real Madrid, Cruyff’s Ajaz and Gullit’s AC Milan.”
Colvin continued, calling it the best club football game he’d seen in 25 years.
Tom Smithies joined in for Melbourne’s Herald Sun. “Sometimes there is no denying the course of history,” he wrote. “Barcelona are, officially, the best team in the world.”
But are they really? Really? How can they all be so utterly sure?
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola was more measured, telling Associated Press reporters that he was not certain whether his side was indeed the greatest thing in the known universe.
“It is impossible to say,” he said. “I didn’t see the Real Madrid of Di Stefano and the Ajax of Cruyff. We try to play as well as possible. I hope in the next 10 or 15 years the people will remember them and have enjoyed them.”
The next 10 or 15 years. Guardiola’s got it right. That’s how long it might take to truly compare Barcelona v.2011 to everyone else on earth. Not three minutes, Fozz.
Proclamations about being the best of all time are well and good, but keep some statistical perspective (please, wherever possible).
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May 31st 2011 @ 3:57am
nordster said | May 31st 2011 @ 3:57am | Report comment
its all just opinion so you’ll never get any statistical perspective that proves it one way or the other
“But how can Fozz, on national telly, state that these guys are virtually the most ultra-evolved human beings on earth in such a split-second?”
i think its based on watching them over the last few years, a culmination of many, many split-seconds … can confirm this as i’ve been jizzing myself the whole time as well
… along with many others who’ve been watching since long before this week.
May 31st 2011 @ 7:31am
punter said | May 31st 2011 @ 7:31am | Report comment
I agree that it’s better to judge this Barcelona side in a bout 10 years time. However, I have the feeling (well I don’t think I’m alone here) we are witnessing greatness here with this Barcelona side.
Having watched alot of La Liga & EPL this year, I know how good Man United & Real Madrid are & Barcelona makes both teams look rather ordinary.
They are as good a footballing side as I’ve ever seen in 40 years of watching this great game & they are winning, unlike say the 82 Brazil or Dutch total football in the 70s.
May 31st 2011 @ 1:56pm
matthewthorpe said | May 31st 2011 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
i seem to remember ajax winning three european cups in the early 70s
May 31st 2011 @ 3:14pm
punter said | May 31st 2011 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
I was more talking about Holland national side who were also a wonderful team.
May 31st 2011 @ 8:43am
Paul CAse said | May 31st 2011 @ 8:43am | Report comment
They passed the ball 8000 times more than any other team in the Champions League. Seeing as they pass the ball around 1000 times a game, thats 8 games worth of passing that they did more than the next best.
If you’ve played football you’ll appreciate just how difficult it is to play the way they do, which is why football is a game of beauty, and unashamedly team sport.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:09am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Hi Paul – as stated above, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate their efforts. And they must be very, very good to have achieved the win. No, I haven’t played much football myself (the extremely rare backyard/park kick-about) and yes it’s beautiful to watch, and yes it’s a team sport. But I am still intrigued at how pundits can claim total eternal superiority for one club XI so quickly. And, perhaps more importantly, if such comparisons can be made – how does one do so statistically (a la cricket, etc, as stated above). The completed passes (and percentage of accurate ones) as you mention would be a good start. What other parameters could there be to better rank/solve historical arguments over a best-ever team?
May 31st 2011 @ 10:13am
Darwin Stubbie said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:13am | Report comment
The problem you’ve got is that football is not a game of statistics – it’s a game for viewing … you need to feel it and embrace it to appreciate it completely … stats are just raw data that won’t give the real picture …. AFL is similar in that respect – you need to watch it to appreciate it and compare sides from the past …
But I’d correct Colvin in the Mirror – this Barcelona outfit should be rated alongside those he listed – whether they’re above all or some of those is always going to be a matter of personal perference … what they all have in common though is each had some of the best players ever to play the game … interesting Maradonna isn’t listed with a truly great team – yet was one of the best players ever
May 31st 2011 @ 10:43am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Hi DS – I don’t know if I’d call it a “problem” to air a statistical question about football in itself. I have been a longtime admirer/appreciator of the world game (since watching the 1992 World Cup to be honest), and I love watching it when I get the chance. True, stats aren’t everything, but they are partially what we have available to do number-crunching comparisons across different eras.
May 31st 2011 @ 12:25pm
Subrasub said | May 31st 2011 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
hi i reckon you have a valid point but you just cannot measure footballing performance by statistics-at least not find consclusive evidence that one team is greater than another from one era to another. Barcelona are a terrific side and i have a lot of admiration for how they go about the game- it is pure, stylish,brilliant and more importantly wins games. Now there have been phenomenal teams that have been assembled over the journey like your liverpools, real madrids, manchester uniteds and milans but i believe that barca cannot be considered the greatest of all time unanimously until they breakaway from the most important statistic of all- trophies won. Real, liverpool,bayern and ajax all won 3 cl title during their golden era while milan and united have won 2 and 1 during there dominant periods. If barca can perhaps do the unthinkable and win it 2 years in a row(which is historically almost impossible as no one has achieved this in the cl era) or even a 3 peat and stretch that cl titles won to 4 or 5 with the continued application of this spellbounding style then i like many would say they are the greatest of all time. Many people are hooked and convinced by the fact that barcas brilliant and philosophical approach as opposed to a pragmatic style that has won them their trophies is the reason why they should be considered the greatest but im sure that you win dont win two trophies for winning with style. The statisitics of pass completion etc are a reflection of how they play not their dominance- ball retention is an aspect of the game just like playing direct or long passing or crossing- barca have just identified this as the most vital part. Perhaps they are the most brilliant side ever but greatest is not meritted yet. I believe manchester uniteds 1991-2011 side is the greatest ever because it keeps winning and plays beautifully and has contained some of the greatest players of all time. Most people dont know that barca went 6 years without a trophy before dinho brought back the glory and thus the modern barca are a reward for patience and belief in a philosophy. United have stayed strong all throughout and represents winning.
May 31st 2011 @ 5:05pm
andy said | May 31st 2011 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
To be honest Barca should have three in a row as Inter clearly shouldn’t have gone through against either Chelsea or Barcelona. It won’t be historically impossible as there isn’t really anyone else to challenge Barca except for Real Madrid under that rat Mourinho but we got the better of him anyway!
Last point it took Man Utd 9 years to win two CL trophies and it took Barca 5 years to win three, so their 1991-2011 period hasn’t been massively successful on the European stage. It’s easy to beat the rest of the English competition when you’re a good team, Liverpool drop to the relegation zone, Arsenal crash out as usual, Chelsea fall apart, Man City don’t get along until February and Tottenham just aren’t good enough. It should be fun seeing how Man Utd deal with all those teams if they get their act together.
May 31st 2011 @ 4:59pm
andy said | May 31st 2011 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Ben it hasn’t been so quickly every since the 08/09 season when they won the treble people have been gearing up to acknowledge this team with the bests of Pele, Best, Cruyff, Dalglish among others. It’s just that football these days is so much quicker and requires more stamina than the games of even 30 years ago. Lets be honest Pele’s Santos aren’t the best side ever because it was mainly Pele and a then the other good (not fantastic) players. Man Utd’s ’99 team almost got beat by Bayern Munich and it was fairly lucky you have to say to get 2 goals in the last 4 minutes. And having actually watched the 2006 Barca team i can say with some confidence that this team are better. Iniesta’s better than he was, so Xavi, and even though Eto’o may be better than David Villa a lot of the time, Messi is in a class of his own instead of still growing up and vying for a spot in the first team..
May 31st 2011 @ 2:12pm
st penguin said | May 31st 2011 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
although in saying that, Spain similarly outpassed its opposition in the world cup but were not nearly as beautiful to watch.
May 31st 2011 @ 10:32pm
Paul said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
go to zonalmarking.net or look up prozone, it’s a football stats system that most epl clubs use and i think it’s been adapted to AFL too.
The stats are there if you want them, and from a tactical perspective they will always show this Barcelona team as the strongest in almost all departments (save perhaps defense where they probably ‘just’ rate around around the rest.
As someone said though, this is just the raw way of looking at the “best” title, the style of play is difficult to master and the skills required to execute make it all the more special. However, simply bringing a smile to the face of a sports fan is still the most important factor imo.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:21am
Walt said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:21am | Report comment
The Australian version of the trophy presentation must have been different. From where I sat, Eric Abidal raised the trophy.
Feel free to leave this comment out after you correct the article.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:29am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Fair enough Walt – call it my early morning memory!
May 31st 2011 @ 9:30am
nordster said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:30am | Report comment
yeah i thought they’d brought Puyol on just for the trophy lift … but he passed it on to Abidal, nice touch after the year he’s had.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:37am
Art Sapphire said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Ben, you’ve written a whole piece about a game without even watching it. Hmmmm? Not a good look.
The game started at 4.45. Why did you set your alarm for 6.45. The game does not got for 4 quarters
SBS even replayed the game 11 in the morning, but I guess you did not watch that either.
As Walt said, Eric Abidal did raise the trophy.
FYI – He was in hospital having tumours from his liver removed in an emergency operation 2 months ago. His comeback to play in the final was remarkable. The gesture by Barca to make him lift the trophy was the feel good moment of the event.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:41am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Hi Art – I was working on Sunday, and couldn’t get up for the game. Was also miffed about the 11am replay – usually I catch the 10pm-12midnight one when the final has been shown on a Thursday. My issue isn’t with Barca winning, as said in my post, and it’s not with them being obviously excellent, either. It’s more asking the question about what measurement is used to allow people to so quickly declare greatest-ever comparisons. And yes, I am aware of the difference between quarters and halves Art!
May 31st 2011 @ 9:48am
Art Sapphire said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:48am | Report comment
Well if you watched the game you would understand why pundits were so quick to draw comparisons to the great teams of yore. Also, no surprise that Sir Alex said they were the best team he’s ever faced as a manager.
Barca’s outstanding performance was the inspiration for my piece of satire yesterday.
But seriously, with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi in the team, they should start with one less player
May 31st 2011 @ 9:50am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Read your piece yesterday – clever stuff. I seem to recall Red Dwarf actor Craig “Lister” Charles advocating similar things to hamper European opponents so that English clubs could win it more often – like carrying their luggage with them onto the pitch, giving the goalie a blindfold, thick mittens and a strait-jacket, etc.. and having all the games played in England with English refs.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:57am
Art Sapphire said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Red Dwarf were onto something back then – the English clubs solved this problem by putting as few English players on the pitch
May 31st 2011 @ 6:09pm
andy said | May 31st 2011 @ 6:09pm | Report comment
just take out mascherano!
May 31st 2011 @ 9:51am
Tigranes said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Ben – it cos Foz said so.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:57am
punter said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Tigarnes, now while Foz is a respected football writer with great knowledge of the game. It is quite apparent to one & all how good Barcelona are if you had followed them in the last 3-5 years.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:44am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Ben—-you didn’t see the game and most probably didn’t bother to see the replay on SBS later in the day at 11am for yourself. So how can you write a piece like this when you have not seen with your own eyes what Baca did to Man U. It was a comprehensive football lesson—total domination of the English Champions played in England that many would say the EPL is the best football league in the world. I would suggest to you to pick up the phone and speak to Craig Foster to congratulate him as he had predicted Baca’s football will be hailed one day as the greatest anyone would see in their life time 4 years ago.
May 31st 2011 @ 9:57am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Ben
Statistics in football are pretty irrelevant. Heck … very often even the score doesn’t accurately describe the story of what transpired during the preceding 90 minutes.
In my opinion, the only way to accurately assess a football game is by watching the game – i.e. the WHOLE game; not simply highlights on the news – and, preferably, watching the game live at the stadium.
You are correct in questioning the veracity of the current analysis that “Barca is the best of all time” – there is no way of knowing that. Even with statistics, such comparisons are impossible.
The thing about Barca’s performance on Sunday morning is that, for the 1st time in my memory, the whole football world – Barca supporters, Man United supporters, neutral supporters – is unanimous in their lauding of Barcelona.
Heck, even the great Glaswegian, who is usually very taciturn in his praise of the opponent, conceded his United team were comprehensively beaten by one of the best teams of all time.
So, are Barcelona the best of all time …? Well, several billion people, who live and love football seem to think so.
May 31st 2011 @ 10:47am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Hi Fuss and QSAF – I suppose I’m just interested to know what (if any) statistical analysis across the eras can be applied to football. And as said before this is meant purely as a fan’s question for other fans to discuss – and comes from a sports fan himself who enjoys the world game (among others).
May 31st 2011 @ 10:54am
Darwin Stubbie said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:54am | Report comment
I’d probably suggest the only one of relevance would be 11 v 11 .. not tryiing to take the p!ss or anything .. but really stats just odn’t cut it … and that’s why you won’t find a game broken down into them
May 31st 2011 @ 11:08am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Hi Ben
My assessment of Barca’s game on Sunday morning had nothing to do with any statistic. In fact, I still haven’t seen the final statistics from the game (other than “goals scored”!).
Two of the most important parameters that I always use when watching and assessing a team are:
a) 1st touch and
b) movement of players when they DO NOT have the ball.
Of course, all other techniques are very important: e.g. ability to win the ball, accurately pass, tackle, head the ball, shoot on target, etc. etc. are intrinsic to winning a football match but, for me, a soft 1st touch and movement into space are the foundation upon which a football team is built.
The great players (Messi, Xavi, Iniesta … actually the whole Barca team) intuitively knows where to run and when to run … it is not easy to measure and assess such “player movement” b/c it varies from game to game and will even vary during the game depending on how the opposition sets up.
My advice is … start watching as many full football matches as possible and you, too, will soon understand the different styles of play – a bit like an art lover will look at a multitude of paintings and identify the style of each artist and can form a view about why one artist’s style is far superior to another.
May 31st 2011 @ 11:23am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Well put Fuss.
May 31st 2011 @ 11:08am
punter said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Ben, I think you mentioned cricket.
Both Sachin Tendulkar & Jacque Kallis has scored greater than 11000 runs, with Tendulkar’s ave @ 56.94 & Kallis ave @ 57.43, why is Tendulkar rated the 2nd best batsmen the world as seen after Bradman & yet Kallis is not even enetered calulations into the top 5.
Better still 6 runs separate Brian Lara & Jacque Kallis, with Kallis having a 5% better batting ave, yet many rate Lara a much better bat.
So it’s an winning trophies consistenly & then playing style.
Who was the better tennis player Pat Rafter or Lleyton Hewwit, both won 2 majors?
May 31st 2011 @ 11:24am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Hi Punter – tough calls I agree. Especially the tennis. I’d at a pinch say Rafter, but that might be also to do with his public perception/personality as performance.
May 31st 2011 @ 11:26am
nordster said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:26am | Report comment
“the WHOLE game; not simply highlights on the news”
Fuss, realising this was a turning point for me with football … i grew up on rugby league and union … through the 90s i watched a lot of EPL highlights on the ABC and then SBS. I was keen but still didn’t quite get it. Was only as we started getting more and more FULL games on pay TV that i truly appreciated the world game. That and being at the MCG in ’97 … France ’98 it totally clicked for me. I still have the piece i wrote for the uni student paper about the tournament, amateurish effort but i was hooked from then.
May 31st 2011 @ 10:08am
Michael said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Ben, go out and buy a Hard Disk recorder. Set it to record when the game starts & get up 30 minutes after the start of the game & press play. That way, if a game is tedious and you can fast-forward. If it’s a great game, you can watch all you like.
May 31st 2011 @ 10:19am
Ben Carter said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:19am | Report comment
Hi Michael – HD recorder would be great, as would a revamped backyard, new lounge suite and other stuff! On this particular morning, even getting up at 5.15am assuming I had said recorder would have been extremely unlikely owing to work commitments for a full Sunday. Kinda wish SBS replayed it later in the evening to be honest, or on SBS2…
May 31st 2011 @ 10:33am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2011 @ 10:33am | Report comment
@ Ben
If you have a spare US$1.99 or A$1.85, you can watch the entire UCL final on your PC right now … or at your earliest convenience!
I’m pretty sure UEFA makes this available as soon as the final whistle has sounded.
http://www.uefa.com/video/index.html
May 31st 2011 @ 11:13am
Davo said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Ben Carter,
Maybe the whole point of your article is stating that it is too early to call this side ‘the best ever’.
I agree, but let’s call a spade a spade, the performance on Sunday morning was not just good football was AMAZING football, artistry and skill. It was football that hasn’t been seen for a long time on this planet. So yes i say let’s wholeheartedly acknowledge the quality of this performance and give it the rave reviews it deserves. The best ever? i think we need to wait a few years.
May 31st 2011 @ 11:14am
dasilva said | May 31st 2011 @ 11:14am | Report comment
I think it’s the case that Barcalona are a class above the 2nd best side in the world.
They may lose a few matches BUT they can only lose when other sides park the bus and flood the midfield.
No one can compete with them in terms of attacking football. Since people subjectively value attacking football as quality over defensive football (let just say this if a side won the champions league 3 years out of 6 but by playing defensive football, then people wouldn’t consider them the greatest side in history).
THey have a minimum of 60% of possession against every team in the world.
Manchester United are a pretty attacking and stylish team and so was Arsenal who both like to dominate games. None of them could play their normal game against Barcalona.
No other side in the world can compete with them in their terms. That’s why they are considered one of the best in history.
I will say that the style they play is the most difficult and skillful way of playing football and they are winning trophies with that style of football and no one in the world are on the same planet playing that style of football. THey are class above any other team in the world playing that style of football.
I have no doubt there have been other great sides in football history but did they dominate and control the game with 60%+ possesion against the 2nd best ball playing team in the world?
I also comment that although it’s true that in the past the referee gave flair players less protection. Nowadays players are far more athletic and that flair players had less space to wheave their magic then they used as they are closed down far more quicker.
I have read people who watch the Madrid sides of the 60′s and although they admire their skills they were wondering how much time and space the flair players had with the ball and believing that they would not be able to play that way against modern teams and that modern teams would beat them (although that’s all hypothetical)
THere was a time when people were wondering whether it is truly possible to play the extravagent possession based game in modern football and whether this attacking style of football is dying. The Guardiola types players were considered out of date where their role in midfiled was solely there to pass during the early 00′s, this was proven wrong when the likes of Pirlo from Milan and Xavi and iniesta for Barcalona came along (http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/05/04/how-the-2000s-changed-tactics-1-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-passing-midfielder/). So for Barcalona to play such a game in modern times is extraordinary.
May 31st 2011 @ 2:23pm
dasilva said | May 31st 2011 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
I will also state that when Real Madrid tried to play attacking football against Barca. Who are probably the 2nd best ball-playing team in the world (they actually play pretty attacking football against other teams that aren’t barcalona)
The result 5-0 massacre.