It's generally helpful to focus on both the league and Europe.

Posted on August 18, 2026 at 04:05:15 PM by GritsGoBlue

For instance, most of Barca's UCL titles have come in seasons in which they were pushed in Spain right to the end because they stay sharp. One argument for why Bayern and PSG have underachieved recently in Europe (this is obviously no longer true for PSG) is that they lost their edge in the second half of the season because they weren't playing high-intensity matches on the weekend and then found it hard to turn up the dial when they hit crunch time in the Champions League.

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Barca spending €76.5m on a 30 year old who can't stay fit (played 41 out of 121 total matches the last two seasons) and was in the last year of his contract seems crazy - By Arctic August 18, 2026 at 02:14:09 PM
- Because he is a Ballon d'Or winner and the best player in the world at possibly the most important position? - By GritsGoBlue August 18, 2026 at 02:22:04 PM
  - "Variables" remind me of Barca sending Liverpool €10m because Coutinho was an unused sub when Bayern one the Champions League. - By Arctic August 18, 2026 at 02:33:13 PM
    - PSG just paid 50M for a striker who was going into the last year of his deal and has not been a starter since he was at Valencia. - By GritsGoBlue August 18, 2026 at 02:53:42 PM
      - Leipzig is offering 60 million for a player with one year experience in the Bundesliga and that only started 1/3 of the games last year - By Adamantiumblue August 18, 2026 at 04:27:07 PM
      - PSG may have been doing a favor to Luis Enrique's agent with that one. Either way, Barca would have collected at least £5 more for him if not for variables in the previous deal with City - By Arctic August 18, 2026 at 03:06:11 PM
    - Real Madrid really wanted Rodri, they were heartbroken to lose out. (m) - By suede August 18, 2026 at 02:40:39 PM
      - Florentino is getting senile and Madrid have been poorly run for a few years. Them wanting a player doesn't confer any more value or quality than Todd Boehly wanting a player these days - By Arctic August 18, 2026 at 02:48:25 PM
        
        Barca's season begins with the first match against Atleti or Real Madrid. - By GritsGoBlue August 18, 2026 at 02:56:12 PM
        
        The longer the La Liga sides hyper focus on each other then further the Premier League sails off into the distance* - By Arctic August 18, 2026 at 03:27:52 PM
        
        It's generally helpful to focus on both the league and Europe. - By GritsGoBlue August 18, 2026 at 04:05:15 PM
        
        Nah, it's not Ligue 1. Rodri will have to play two-thirds of La Liga matches. (nm) - By suede August 18, 2026 at 02:53:03 PM
- ACL injuries are not chronic. By all accounts, he's a consummate professional whose recovery was managed for the long term. Looked great the end of the Prem season and was exceptional at the World Cup. Coming into a league context where he can be rested (not as much as PSG rests its first XI).* - By suede August 18, 2026 at 02:17:41 PM
  - Fleeing City like Bernardo. * - By crumbs August 18, 2026 at 02:20:42 PM
    - Just more proof that Barça has aura that other clubs cannot dream of. (nm) - By suede August 18, 2026 at 02:22:19 PM
      - ES UN SUENO!!! - By GritsGoBlue August 18, 2026 at 02:25:03 PM
        
        Even learned the language. Legend * - By crumbs August 18, 2026 at 02:32:52 PM

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It's generally helpful to focus on both the league and Europe.