Barcelona dazzles with its football play in the desert

Ernesto Valverde was never a great poker player. The 'Txingurri', for whom the city of Jeddah brings back terrible memories, as here he experienced his last match at the helm of Barça before Bartomeu decapitated him to bring Quique Setién out of his rustic retirement in Cantabria, had a look of pessimism on his face the day before the semifinal. Indeed, he had reason for the grimace, as common sense did not give too many chances to this erratic Athletic against a rival that, when it accelerates, is pure dynamite. But the cliché dictates, despite everything, that the matches have to be played. The problem for the Basques was that last night's match was only played by Barça. And very well.