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After the dust settles down, all we have are memories to live with. It is fascinating as to how every moment we create a memory; it is there, but it is still not there. It is a pathless path to a knowable that is perhaps unknown.
Some memories bring dread to our minds. The moment they spring on the screen of the mind, we wish for the ground to open up and consume us. However, there is always light in this fabric weaved of darkness.
For Barcelona fans, things might not be so bright right now. After all, their one-time apple-of-the-eye Neymar left them under controversial circumstances. Regardless, they can always look back for joy.
It was not too long ago when the Blaugranas had the world at their feet -- and here are the 5 moments they would love to relive if they were given the chance...
#5 Pedro goal in the Club World Cup
Barcelona were on track to achieve the once-unassailable glory. The Catalans had won the Copa del Rey, La Liga, Champions League, European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup. The only thing missing from a sextuple? The Club World Cup trophy.
As the Catalans took on Estudiantes in the final of the tournament, hopes were high – many were actually certain that the Blaugrana would easily win the game and make history. However, right in the 36th minute, Mauro Boselli scored for the Argentine clubs to bring a twist to the script.
The clock kept ticking and now there were only two minutes of normal time remaining as the ball came flying towards Gerard Pique in the penalty box. The defender was now playing as an emergency striker and headed the ball towards the game behind on his right.
Pedro Rodriguez, who came on a substitute was in acres of space and an eternity of time and did what he does best: scored a brilliant poacher’s goal to give Barcelona the equaliser.
It was a goal that brought the Catalans back into the game, which they subsequently went on to win with a goal from Lionel Messi in extra-time.
#4 5-0 Real Madrid
This is perhaps the greatest moment in Barcelona’s recent history. No amount of trophies could equate to the joy of desecrating your arch-rivals at home. It all started with a neat piece of footballing genius from Xavi Hernandez.
At the bottom of the centre-circle in their own half, Xavi Hernandez evaded an on-rushing Karim Benzema and played an effortless ball to his nearest team-mate. The ball was received by Sergio Busquets who then released it to Lionel Messi with his first touch.
Messi, then, found Xavi at the tilt of centre-circle in Madrid’s half, who, in turn, passed it back to the Argentine and sped ahead between Ricardo Carvalho and Marcelo. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, now himself at the incline of the circle in Madrid’s half, delicately smooched the ball to Andres Iniesta on his left.
This is the point where time nearly stopped for the World Cup winner as he spotted Xavi in between the Brazilian and the Portuguese and executed the most perfectly-paced through-ball you will ever see. The ball eludes the last-ditch sliding tackle from Marcelo, but not completely as it clips the former Fluminese starlet and then finds its way towards Xavi’s heel.
The ball hits the wizard’s heel and takes the aerial course to fall kindly in front of him; all he had to do was fling it over Iker Casillas – and he did. 1-0 for Barcelona, 5-0 at the end of the day with goals from Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Carles Puyol.
After the conclusion of the game, Gerard Pique raised his hand with an open fist to stretch out his fingers to indicate ‘five’ in an attempt further humiliate the Blancos.
#3 Ronaldinho ovation
The Bernabeu is a very vocal place when it comes to displaying their emotions over something. They won’t think twice before whistling their own player for poor performances, but will also be the first ones to give them a standing ovation should they mesmerise them with skill and diligence.
Even if it is a rival player, they are not shy to reveal their admiration. So when Ronaldinho destroyed the Galacticos’ defence at the Bernabeu, the Madridistas were on their feet and were clapping at the magic that the Brazilian’s dancing feet weaved that day.
The former Paris-Saint German midfielder wreaked havoc and topped his performance with a magnificent goal that saw Sergio Ramos lying on the grass on the trail left behind by the blazing Ronnie.
It was a moment of pride for the Cules as their best player was being admired by their greatest adversary, a moment that they always cherish and wish to live again.
#2 Iniesta against Chelsea
For many, this was a game which made Barca one of the most disliked teams in the world despite being at their best at that time. The Catalans were flying high under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola and were seemingly unstoppable…until they needed some help from Tom-Henning Ovrebo for help.
Barcelona couldn’t overcome Chelsea at the Camp Nou as the Blues came out with a 0-0 draw. At the Bridge, an early goal from Didier Drogba swung the game in the Londoners’ favour. They could have finished the game long before the full-time whistle, but some questionable refereeing from Ovrebo denied Chelsea what was rightfully theirs.
And Barcelona took full advantage of it.
As the stoppage time was also fading to nihil, the ball fell kindly to Messi on the left-side of Chelsea’s penalty box. The ball in Messi’s feet is always a dangerous thing, but the Argentine chose to lay it off to an onrushing Andres Iniesta.
The Spaniard blasted the ball into the net while shooting on the run and scored the equaliser in the injury time to take Barca to the final of the Champions league due to the away goal advantage.
And obviously, they won the final to complete the treble.
#1 Sergi Roberto's goal against PSG
When we speak of comebacks in European nights, Liverpool’s comeback against Milan in the Champions League final of 2005 is perhaps the greatest of all time in the Champions League. However, if there is any club that comes close to what Liverpool did that day, it is Barcelona.
After losing the first leg 4-0 against the French giants, the Catalans were all but out of the Champions League. Beating PSG by a margin of five goals was a near-impossible task to do, even at the Camp Nou.
But luck had something else in store for the Parisiens.
A Neymar-inspired Barcelona were on the front foot from the word go itself. The Brazilian was in scintillating touch, unplayable for most parts of the game. The former Santos starlet scored the 4th and 5th goal of the game before playing a floating pass from midfield to the opponent’s box for Sergi Roberto to smash home the winner.
That moment is perhaps the most unbelievable moment in the history of the club. No-one gave Barcelona a shot to overcome a 4-0 deficit, but they did – and what a way to it was!
