Barcelona

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Barcelona (巴塞罗那)
Alias(es)	Barça
Affiliation	La Liga
Occupation/Role	Professional football club; recurring rival and opponent of Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Ajax
First Appearance	Chapter 283 283

Club Identity and Playing Style

Barcelona is defined by a long-standing possession-based philosophy centered on short passing, technical control, coordinated movement, and aggressive counter-pressing after losing the ball. The club treats possession as its “lifeblood” and maintains that philosophy even when results suffer. 750 820 1245

Under Guardiola, Barcelona’s system combined possession with exceptional running and high pressing, allowing the team to recover the ball quickly and sustain pressure on opponents. In the 2008–09 season, the side reportedly averaged 65.7% possession with a pass-completion rate close to 90%. 750 820

The club’s tactical identity is closely tied to its internally developed core. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, and Piqué are described as players shaped by the system from within, making Barcelona’s style unusually difficult for other clubs to reproduce. 906 1041

By the later years, the same system becomes harder to maintain as key players age and the forward line contributes less defensive coverage. Barcelona’s midfield and defense consequently struggle against high-tempo pressing and counter-attacking sides. 1466 1600

Background and History

During Rijkaard’s tenure, Barcelona is regarded as the reigning European champion and a side full of elite players, including Ronaldinho, Deco, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, and Eto’o. 504 However, the departure of assistant coach Ten Cate coincides with an internal decline: players regret losing his discipline, Deco begins missing training, and the league lead narrows sharply despite Barcelona remaining first. 503

The situation deteriorates amid locker-room divisions involving Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto’o, and Rijkaard. Messi’s injury compounds the crisis, while Barcelona’s possession-heavy attack struggles to turn control into goals. 503 504 Liverpool subsequently eliminates Barcelona after overwhelming the team with pressing, pace, and Yang Yang’s decisive performances. 517 520

Barcelona later rebuilds under Pep Guardiola. The new coach strengthens the defense and midfield with Piqué, Dani Alves, and Seydou Keita, while developing a faster and more aggressive version of the club’s possession football. 653 743 Guardiola’s first season produces a La Liga and Copa del Rey double, but Liverpool defeat Barcelona in the Champions League final despite Barcelona holding 68% possession. 759 760

A prolonged rivalry with Real Madrid follows. Barcelona repeatedly suffers heavy defeats to Yang Yang’s Real Madrid, including a 0–8 aggregate Champions League semi-final loss that contributes to Guardiola’s realization that he can no longer resolve the team’s internal problems. He resigns at the end of the season, and assistant Tito Vilanova succeeds him. 1013 1017

Barcelona responds with major recruitment, bringing back Jordi Alba and signing Neymar to support Messi. 1017 1031 The club later signs Cristiano Ronaldo for a world-record €100 million fee and matches Messi’s €16 million after-tax annual salary, creating an exceptionally expensive attacking group. 1101

Managers and Leadership

• Frank Rijkaard — Head coach during Barcelona’s post-Champions-League decline; his authority is undermined by player conflicts and poor form. 503 504
• Pep Guardiola — Rebuilds Barcelona into a dominant possession side, but leaves after mounting locker-room doubts and severe defeats to Real Madrid. 653 700 1013 1017
• Tito Vilanova — Guardiola’s assistant and successor; leads Barcelona to an El Clásico victory that ends a three-year losing streak against Real Madrid. 1017 1044
• Gerardo Martino — Coaches Barcelona after the signings of Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo; opens the league season with a 7–0 win over Levante. 1104
• Luis Enrique — Faces criticism for tactical choices during a 7–0 defeat to Real Madrid, but oversees Barcelona’s later recovery and Champions League success. 1415 1431
• Ernesto Valverde — Leads Barcelona during its Champions League semi-final against Ajax. 1600 1601
• Quique Setién — Comes under increasing pressure after Barcelona fail to win away against Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, and Napoli. 1661

Key Players

• Lionel Messi — Barcelona’s central star and long-term focal point; the club repeatedly organizes its attack around him, while his rivalry with Yang Yang drives much of Barcelona’s competition with Real Madrid. 700 790 1562
• Xavi Hernández — A defining midfielder of Barcelona’s possession system; his departure marks the breakup of the club’s famed midfield triangle with Iniesta and Busquets. 906 1285
• Andrés Iniesta — Core midfielder whose technical ability and understanding of Barcelona’s system help define the club’s baseline strength. 906
• Sergio Busquets — Defensive midfielder central to Barcelona’s possession structure; his position becomes increasingly important after Yaya Touré’s departure. 860 915
• Neymar — Signed from Santos for €60 million to form a new attacking unit with Messi and Sánchez; later part of the Messi–Cristiano Ronaldo–Neymar front three. 1031 1104
• Cristiano Ronaldo — Signed from Manchester United for €100 million; his arrival gives Barcelona a star-studded attack but greatly increases the club’s wage burden and debt. 1101
• Dani Alves — Signed from Sevilla during Guardiola’s rebuild; contributes both defensively and offensively from right-back. 653 1044
• Jordi Alba — Returns to Barcelona from Valencia for €14 million following Guardiola’s departure. 1017

Relationship with Yang Yang

• Yang Yang — A recurring rival, transfer target, and tactical problem for Barcelona. His performances for Liverpool and Real Madrid earn him the label “Barcelona Bane.” 520 1013
• Barcelona submits an €80 million offer for Yang Yang while he is at Liverpool, but concerns persist over his coexistence with Messi and his status as an outsider in Catalonia. 651
• Guardiola personally invites Yang Yang to join Barcelona, but the question of fitting alongside Messi remains unresolved. 653 759
• Barcelona’s management later acknowledges failing to sign Yang Yang as a major mistake, particularly after he becomes the centerpiece of Real Madrid’s dominance. 1013 1123
• As Ajax’s coach, Yang Yang prepares his players specifically to face Barcelona at Camp Nou, drawing on his extensive history of defeating the club. 1598 1601

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rijkaard Era Decline

Barcelona’s title-winning side becomes divided after Ten Cate’s departure. Declining discipline, player conflicts, injuries, and a narrowing league lead leave the club vulnerable before Liverpool eliminates it from Europe. 503 504 517

Guardiola Rebuild and Rome Final

Guardiola transforms Barcelona into a powerful possession-and-pressing side. The team wins domestic trophies and reaches the Champions League final in Rome, but loses to Liverpool as Yang Yang scores twice on the counterattack. 700 750 759 760

Real Madrid’s Ascendancy

Barcelona endures repeated losses to Real Madrid, including a 5–0 Camp Nou defeat, a 0–8 aggregate Champions League semi-final humiliation, and further El Clásico losses. The pressure and locker-room doubts contribute to Guardiola’s resignation. 809 1013 1016

Rebuild Around New Superstars

Following Guardiola’s exit, Barcelona pursues Jordi Alba, Neymar, and other reinforcements. The club later signs Cristiano Ronaldo to join Messi and Neymar, creating an attack described as the most luxurious in La Liga while worsening Barcelona’s debt and salary commitments. 1017 1031 1101

European Recovery and Later Decline

Barcelona defeats Real Madrid in the Champions League final after restoring midfield control through Xavi’s introduction. 1285 Later, the team responds to a 0–4 loss to Paris Saint-Germain with a 6–1 comeback at Camp Nou, demonstrating renewed unity and desperation. 1431 By the Ajax semi-final, however, an aging core and limited running capacity are identified as major weaknesses against younger, high-pressing opponents. 1600 1601

Notable Results

Result	Competition / Context	Notes
Barcelona 1–5 Liverpool (aggregate)	Champions League	Yang Yang scores four goals and provides one assist across the tie. 520
Barcelona 0–2 Liverpool	Champions League final, Rome	Barcelona holds 68% possession, but Yang Yang scores both Liverpool goals. 759 760
Barcelona 0–5 Real Madrid	El Clásico at Camp Nou	Yang Yang scores a hat-trick during Barcelona’s centenary celebration. 809 810
Barcelona 0–8 Real Madrid (aggregate)	Champions League semi-final	A defining humiliation that precedes Guardiola’s departure. 1013
Barcelona 2–1 Real Madrid	El Clásico	Ends Barcelona’s three-year losing streak against Real Madrid. 1044
Barcelona 7–0 Levante	La Liga opening match	Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar score two goals each. 1104
Barcelona 2–1 Real Madrid	Champions League final	Barcelona regains midfield control after Xavi’s introduction and secures the title. 1285
Barcelona 6–1 Paris Saint-Germain	Champions League Round of 16	A comeback after Barcelona’s 0–4 first-leg defeat. 1431
Barcelona 0–7 Real Madrid	El Clásico at Camp Nou	Yang Yang scores four goals as Barcelona face criticism for tactical and management failures. 1415

Trivia

• Barcelona and Real Madrid are portrayed as century-long rivals whose El Clásico meetings receive worldwide attention. 1082
• The club’s tactical system is compared to Apple’s closed ecosystem: difficult to enter, but capable of producing an “ultimate experience” for players who fit it. 1041 1042
• Barcelona’s front three of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar score six of the club’s seven goals in Cristiano Ronaldo’s league debut. 1104
• Camp Nou repeatedly greets Yang Yang with intense boos due to his long record of decisive performances against Barcelona. 1601