Asides from Thiago -goalscorer and MotM extraordinaire-, Pep fielded a reasonably strong starting XI, including VV, JDS, Fontàs, Busquets, Maxwell, Keita, Iniesta, Pedrito, Soriano and Villa, with Jonathan Dos Santos paying for past transgressions by being stuck on RB, which… seriously, what is it with putting unexpected people in that position when Dani Alves can’t play? Have we such a wealth of talented midfielders and forwards that we can afford to re-train them as fullbacks?
In any case, the first half was reasonably competent; Barça weathered the initial Bayern pressure and then settled into their usual possession game, with Villa and Soriano very active in their attempts to score and VV in his usual unflappable form; JDS was struggling at RB, and having Busquets to keep his back didn’t help, but Bayern couldn’t exploit our weak flank, thanks to Keita’s many and crucial interventions. Thiago’s first goal, at the end of the first half, was a fitting reward for our team’s superiority.
The second half saw Pinto come in for VV, who sat on the bench with ice on his shin, and we started fearing another one of Whistling Pinto’s now-usual howlers, but the owner of the Magical Ponytial (TM) had a good night. Better than can be said for Jeffren, who not only was brought on to replace Maxwell as LB -remember what we said above abotu Pep and fullbacks?-, but also did so wearing a shirt with the number 30, instead of his usual ‘11′. Then came Ibi Afellay for Pedrito -who’s been unusually invisible lately-, young Riverola for Iniesta -reward for playing RB yesterday?-, and then Cuenca in for a Soriano who torn a ligament on his knee and had to be flown back to Barcelona instead of going on the US Tour and trying to convince Pep to bring him into the first team… what terrible timing! He’d been doing so well!
Then came Thiago’s second goal and we were all aflutter again.
Piqué, Carmona and Armando came in near the end for Busquets, JDS and Villa, and then it was over and we got a nice trophy and -one would assume- a boatload of Audis.
Now, the team is in Washington to start the US Tour, beginning with a friendly against Manchester United on Sunday… if you’re going to be there, we’ll have you know we’re very jealous of you!
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