Barcelona may have left it late to clinch the Catalan Derby, but the night was defined by a single, defiant homecoming.
Facing a gauntlet of vitriol, fake bills, and "rat" imagery adorning his face, the former fan-favorite returned to prove a point. By the final whistle, he hadn't just secured the win; he had reaffirmed his status as the world’s premier goalkeeper and the first-choice in the Barcelona team.
Barcelona’s extended winning streak is no stroke of luck; it coincides perfectly with his return to the starting XI. While he has conceded more than he might prefer, his presence has instilled a newfound solidity in a backline that looked far more fragile under Wojciech Szczęsny.
He proved to be the match-winner, keeping Barcelona in the contest with a series of elite interventions. His proactive leadership was on full display, literally guiding Gerard Martín to block a shot, while his shot-stopping remained world-class. He smothered one-on-ones with conviction and plucked a point-blank header out of the air with ease, while making all the other saves just as clinical and comfortable.
The stat sheet echoed his dominance. While his six saves accounted for 1.73 goals prevented, it was his distribution that kept Barcelona in control; he maintained an 89% passing accuracy, completed four out of seven of his long balls, and chipped in with seven crucial recoveries.
The warmth of Hansi Flick’s post-match embrace underscored the goalkeeper's importance. It was a clear signal that he is the undisputed number one, fully justifying the decision to start him over the veteran captain, Marc-André ter Stegen. While Barcelona as a collective showed cracks, their number one stood firm, smoothing over the team's imperfections to deliver a perfect victory.
Substitutes win the match
The turning point came at the interval when Fermín López replaced Marcus Rashford, providing Barcelona with the structure needed to sharpen their attack. Operating as a dynamic attacking midfielder, Fermín’s arrival allowed Raphinha to move back to the wing, a role he occupied until he was substituted for the eventual match-winner, Dani Olmo, in the 64th minute.
Fermín was the engine of the comeback, shifting to the wing in the final stages and providing the assist for Olmo’s winner. He wasn't finished there, practically creating the team’s second goal on his own before playing a wonderful final ball to Robert Lewandowski. To further balance the side, Pedri was introduced for a defender, a move that allowed Eric García to shift back into his more familiar role in the heart of the defense.
In the end, the result was a testament to Hansi Flick’s bench management. While Fermín López and Joan García provided the heroics on the pitch, it was Flick’s ability to read the game and pull the right tactical levers that ensured Barcelona walked away with the points and the pride of the city.