Barcelona smashed seven goals past Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday night to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition. Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha were all on target as Hansi Flick's side once again demonstrated their attacking power.
Against Newcastle, and Sevilla earlier in the week, we saw Barcelona at their best. A team that can strike fear into any opponent in the world, because when they are on, they become truly unstoppable.
Ultimately, they made their dominance count on their good days and picked up the bonus points they needed along the way. To concede 96 points in the last two games will undermine their credentials as an all-time winner, but they were the best of the bunch in 2026.
With so many options in midfield, Hansi Flick has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Gavi will soon be back from injury to add to the roster, meaning that Marc Casado needed to be right on his game against Athletic to send a timely reminder of his quality. In the first half, particularly, which was a little industrial at times, Casado's tigerish challenges and willingness to fight for every ball were a worthwhile endeavour.
Last seen over the weekend putting in a downbeat display as they slumped to a 3-1 loss away at Juarez, Diego Cocca's side have recorded just a sole win from any of their previous four domestic appearances. Including another 3-1 defeat at the hands of Pachuca, the former real Valladolid boss has also seen his squad show some worrying defensive struggles.
Year after year, the Celta captain has proven to be the Catalan team's major weak point. The former Liverpool striker's record against Barcelona is indeed simply stunning, having scored 11 goals in 21 league matches, a statistic that doesn't even fully capture his numerous standout performances and decisive moments that have cost Barça dearly at Balaidos.
