Spanish soccer is done. It’s over. Its reign atop both the club and international level circuits has peaked. There have been obvious signs all season, but until the start of the Champions League semifinals on April 23, the footballing world was still clinging to the assumption that Barcelona and Real Madrid were the best soccer had to offer.
That was until Spain’s two best teams were matched up against Germany’s two best teams in the semifinals of Europe’s most prestigious club soccer competition.
Over two legs, Bayern Munich, the champions-elect of Germany, annihilated Barcelona, the champions-elect of Spain, 7-0 on aggregate.
Barcelona’s tight, short passing style was broken down and dismantled by the powerful and direct approach of Bayern Munich, which consistently enforced its will throughout the two games.
And while the tie between Real Madrid, last year’s La Liga champion, and Borussia Dortmund, last year’s German champion, was much more competitive, Dortmund prevailed over their Spanish counterparts and will meet Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium for an all-German Champions League final on May 25.
Based on two matchups and four total games, it’s obvious that Germany is now the premier footballing nation in the world, with Spain losing its grip on the throne.
So, what’s next for soccer in Spain? Should they even bother continuing to play? Are they now forever relegated to a lower tier in the hierarchy of soccer in Europe and, by extension, the world? Is this the beginning of the end?
Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola must have thought so. After stepping down from his post last season, he recently announced that he would be taking over as manager of Bayern Munich starting next season. The logical explanation can’t be that he simply wants a new challenge after winning everything possible, including two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles in his four seasons at Barcelona. No, he just must have known the right time to leave.
After all, some of Barcelona’s most critical players — Xavi, David Villa and Carlos Puyol — have all aged to the wrong side of 30. (Who cares that their best player and the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, is still entering his prime at 25?).
Many people will argue that Barcelona is the best club team ever, so if Bayern Munich beat them so handily, how good must Bayern be? (Never mind that Arsenal defeated Bayern 2-0 two months ago, and Arsenal have lost to a host of teams this season, including lower-level team Bradford City. Wait?— does that make Bradford City the best team in the world?)
And what of the Spanish national team — what have they done recently? Sure, they won the Euro this past summer, but they haven’t won a World Cup in three years. Three. The so-called best team in the world has to do better than that.
Can I stop now? Do you get the point?
Despite a harrowing loss at the hands of Bayern Munich — and it was bad — it was still only 180 minutes of soccer. Barcelona and the Spanish national team will be fine, regardless of what the sensationalists want you to believe.
The unpredictability of the Champions League means different teams make it to the finals from year to year — but amid the chaos, Barcelona have been a model of consistency, making at least the semifinals six years in a row. No other team, including Bayern Munich, can say as much.
The Spanish national team has won the past three international tournaments. La Liga has the best two players in the world in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Spain and Barcelona were hit hard, but the quality of Spanish soccer isn’t going anywhere.
Enjoy the all-German final; this season, it was well-deserved and should be a classic in its own right. But don’t be surprised if you see Barca back stronger than ever, and in the final in Lisbon next May.
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