Matchday: Inside FC Barcelona

- Season 1

(2019)

The matches between Barça and Real Madrid are one of the most traditional, important and followed sports clashes in the world. That is why they are known as the Clasico. This time the Camp Nou is the scene of a conclusive 'blaugrana' victory despite the absence of Leo Messi. Luis Suarez becomes the great protagonist of the game and shows us his most familiar side. Gerard Piqué lives that rivalry with his parents since he was a child.

A few weeks after Barça's resounding victory in the Clasico, the draw brings a new confrontation against Real Madrid, now in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and with a double tie. The initial draw at Camp Nou, with Brazilian Malcom as the unexpected protagonist, leaves a very open return game at the Bernabéu, in enemy territory. There it is Ter Stegen who becomes a hero. The German goalkeeper also unveils himself as a great lover of Barcelona.

In recent seasons, FC Barcelona has succumbed to the curse of the quarterfinals in the Champions Legue. Now it's time to beat another historic European club, Manchester United, to return to the semifinals. Gerard Piqué is back at his teenager home and his teammate Clément Lénglet, signed months ago and already consolidated in the starting eleven, receives a visit from his brothers. Both are basic pieces to achieve success in Old Trafford and confirm it at the Camp Nou.

There is no greater satisfaction than defeating the citizen rival, and it is something that Barça fans have become accustomed to in recent times when their team faces Espanyol. But a derby is always a special game, and Ernesto Valverde knows it well. He discovered his greatest passion, photography, when he played for the blue and white club. Philippe Coutinho, with whom we share the ups and downs of his season, also has a past in the other city team.

Arrived in April, the journey of FC Barcelona through the 2018/19 League has been practically impeccable and hence the advantage they have at the top of the classification. The last obstacle to leaving the domestic competition almost sentenced for the eighth time in the last eleven seasons is the home game against Atlético de Madrid. Two neighbors and friends who spend a lot of time together, such as Leo Messi and Luis Suárez, take care of stating the hegemony of Barça.

The climax of the season comes with the Champions League. The semifinal against Liverpool brings another great European night to the memories of the Camp Nou. Valverde and his men prepare the meeting conscientiously in the training grounds and the stadium presents the atmosphere of the great days. The game doesn't disappoint and the outcome is more than satisfactory for Barça after a great goal by Leo Messi.

With the League almost decided, FC Barcelona face the final stages of a season that can become unforgettable - but these expectations are transformed into a bitter disappointment in just 18 days, those between the second leg of the Champions League semifinals in Liverpool and the final of the Copa del Rey in Seville. The two games result in adverse outcomes and leave the team and the fans with a bad taste.

After celebrating the League title at the Camp Nou, the disappointment caused by the defeats at Anfield and at the Copa del Rey tests the strength of FC Barcelona. But this is sport, and the motto "more than a club" forces the team and the fans to get up and fight again for the next season with renewed hopes, with young blood from La Masia like Carles's Aleñà and with new exciting signings like Frenkie de Jong or Antoine Griezmann.