After a disappointing opening to their La Liga campaign, drawing Rayo Vallecano 0-0, Barca’s new-look attack took out their frustrations on Real Sociedad this weekend, winning 4-1, ending a four-match domestic drought without a goal or victory, dating back to least season.
When Xavi took over from Ronald Koeman, Barcelona were a team in shambles, sitting ninth in the table, losing four of their last six games under the soon to be new Dutch manager.
The former World Cup champion with Spain has an embarrassment of riches to call upon in the attack, and the expectations are that this team might be the only Spanish side capable of unseating Real Madrid for the La Liga crown.
In a short period of time Xavi has proven to be a pragmatic manager since returning to Barcelona, a club he helped capture eight Spanish league titles as a player, three with Guardiola as his coach.
The 42-year-old has also shown that he can adapt well to situations thrown his way in games, while making intelligent, tactical shifts to change his team’s fortunes.
Even though they have their share of star players, who have generated a lot of excitement amongst their fans, this is a team with a solid young nucleus of talent who should be able to learn a lot from the veterans who have entered the fray.
In six previous meetings against Man City, Barca have only lost once, winning all three matches played at the Camp Nou by a combined score of 7-1.
To no one’s surprise, Man City find themselves near the top of the table in the early portion of the new Premier League campaign, unbeaten in their first three games, sitting even with the league leaders Arsenal in terms of goals scored (nine).
Heading into their Sunday fixture at St. James’ Park versus Newcastle, having won 27 of their last 28 matches when scoring first, it seemed like a formality that they’d maintain their 100% record this season when Ilkay Gundogan put them in front after five minutes.
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The reigning two-time Premier League champions failed to maintain that momentum as the Magpies reacted well, going up 2-1 at the half, then taking a 3-1 lead before the hour mark when City finally woke up with a pair of goals four minutes apart, to collect a single point.
Overcoming setbacks has become an old habit for this team who on Sunday became only the fourth side in league history to avoid defeat in three straight EPL fixtures when falling behind by two goals.
The only other clubs to achieve that feat were Man United (October 1997), Liverpool (December 2008) and West Ham (April 2016).
With seven points so far, it is actually their best start to a Premier League campaign since 2019-20, when they obtained the same amount of points from their opening three fixtures but wound up second at the end of the season to Liverpool.
Guardiola has hinted that he will use players that need more game minutes this season when he returns to Catalonia to face the team he guided to two Champions League trophies as a manager, while also winning one as a player.
