Barcelona failings hidden by average Real Madrid are wrenched apart by Liverpool

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  • Barcelona prayed they would never suffer a greater indignity than last season’s infamous ‘Romantada’.

    The nadir was, staggeringly, little more than 12 months away. A stage later and a goal more.

    Rock bottom came at a riotous Anfield. Manned by approximately 50,000 fevered Liverpool fans, whose limitless faith was rewarded with the grandest semi-final comeback in Champions League history.

    Never mind Saint Etienne in 1977, Olympiakos in 2004, Chelsea a year later or Borussia Dortmund in 2016. This was a Blaugrana for whom the incomparable Lionel Messi had, seemingly, taken the tie away from them in last week’s 3-0 loss at Camp Nou.

    A side that had swept up Reds idols Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho at great expense, superstars whose contributions – to varying degrees – helped fuel 2018/19’s romp to the La Liga crown.

    Unpropitious odds of overall victory only steepened when injury robbed the Reds of Brazil No9 Roberto Firmino and concussed Egypt No9 Mohamed Salah. Ceaseless Scotland left-back Andrew Robertson would then succumb to a problem at half-time, with the score set at only 1-0 thanks to stand-in Divock Origi’s early rebound and the visitors’ – then – solidity.

    Tuesday’s chastening 4-0 humiliation did far more damage than simply end dreams of a ‘treble treble’, or making a fourth Champions League final appearance in a decade bestrewn by success.

    The latest abasement, sealed by the speed of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mind and secured by the sweetness of Origi’s touch, has renewed questions that strike at the heart of this Barca project.

    Is head coach Ernesto Valverde’s stoicism a source of fallibility in fixtures when rational thought falls victim to emotion?

    February’s one-year contract extension that ties the 55-year-old to Camp Nou until the end of 2020/21 no longer provides certainty.

    He was fortunate to survive last season’s wild recriminations after the 3-0 quarter-final surrender at Roma.

    Frenkie de Jong might not be the only asset stripped from Ajax. Tactician Erik ten Hag should expect a phone call, too.

    Time may also be called on servants such as Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba whose peerless abilities are ample domestically, but their declining physicality is ravaged by Europe’s finest.

    Brazil midfielder Fabinho ran all over them as the Red wave grew in intensity after an even initial period. Left-back Alba produced a stunning assist for Suarez in the first leg, but badly erred for two of the midweek goals.

    Is the summer addition of graceful Netherlands midfielder De Jong, 21, enough to stiffen and revitalise an area of the pitch that has gone from their great strength, to a debilitating weakness?

    Hosts outran visitors on Merseyside by 112.1 kilometres to 105.4km. They also recovered four more balls (49/45) and made 12 fouls to nine.

    If Chile battler Arturo Vidal is meant to represent a much-needed dog of war, a lack of bite from this concussive second half was glaring. His descent from being the game’s premier first-half performer to utterly impotent when half-time substitute Georginio Wijnaldum struck twice in two minutes was emblematic of the issues at hand.

    Barca’s XI at kick-off boasted an average age of 29 years and 184 days , with six players over 30. Liverpool’s figures, in contrast, stood at 26 years and 179 days, plus only James Milner was over 30.

    When the pace picked up, the weathered Catalans had no answer.

    A stifling lack of pace was apparent in a first leg from which the Reds were remarkably unfortunate to lose by multiple goals. The rigours of time on Suarez were accentuated further at the ground from which he ran rampant from 2011-14.

    Weekend injury to flying France winger Ousmane Dembele was untimely and the outcome of his absence was enlightening at Anfield. His attributes are unmatched at Camp Nou.

    It both centred defensive attention on Messi, granted Liverpool’s full-backs licence to bomb forwards after the break and condensed the pitch. Fellow nine-figure purchase Coutinho was wretched without him, yet again.

    Recent Brazilian additions Coutinho and Malcom do not look fit for purpose. The former, in particular, was shamefully bad in both legs.

    Roma and Liverpool have prised open cracks in a visage that appeared impregnable.

    Has complacency crept into a squad that is unable to match teams imbued with momentum and a sense of destiny?

    Who was present to take responsibility after an opening period when Messi, of all people, snatched at several inviting opportunities? A solitary Barca goal, from any source, would have taken this contest away from the Reds.

    Messidependencia was meant to have been made myth by February’s 3-0 Copa del Rey semi-final victory at Real Madrid, in which team-mates stepped up on a rare off night.

    Liverpool’s collective, united in faith and graced with special ability, trampled the Argentine +10 others in a second half that will live in the annals.

    In truth, the failings of Madrid and city rivals Atletico have hidden endemic and systemic problems of their own at Barcelona.

    Liverpool are the best team Barca have faced in this campaign. That they came up significantly short merits significant reflection and reaction.

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