According to modern footballing wisdom, BarcelonaâÂÂs success is built on the four pillars of Leo MessiâÂÂs goals, XaviâÂÂs passing...and...er...Leo MessiâÂÂs goals and XaviâÂÂs passing.
But on this particular occasion, as with those who claim it would be a shame to see Deportivo go down on Saturday, the perceived wisdom couldnâÂÂt be more wrong.
BarçaâÂÂs blistering form over the past three years has been driven like a nuclear reactor in a Robin Reliant by the natural forces of smugness produced from displaying the name of UNICEF on the front of the club shirt - a goody-two-shoes gesture that had José Mourinho pondering naughtily if that alone hadnâÂÂt been enough to propel them into two Champions League finals in three years.
In the Madrid managerâÂÂs defence the humungous amount of energy generated by the gleaming aura of self-satisfaction gained from the UNICEF deal has not just powered the football club but also the electrical grids of the Camp Nou, the city of Barcelona, Cataluyna and some parts of France.
Unfortunately, this super-charged success has come to an end with Barcelona showing off their new shirts for the season to come - shirts which have UNICEF relegated to the bottom of the back of the jersey with the clubâÂÂs new imperial overlords, The Qatar Foundation, on the front - a result of the â¬30 million a year deal between the two institutions' contribution to the Barca cause.
Barca's new kit is a little smarter than the last one...
Carlos PuyolâÂÂs perm-framed face atop the new shirt adorns the front cover of both Sport and Mundo Deportivo, but the reaction from both papers is fairly muted to the culture change with the latter merely commenting that the new Nike-driven design will probably sell well - a most Real Madrid of reactions, it must be said.
SportâÂÂs LluÃÂs Mascaró doesnâÂÂt like the new-look at all, and asks for the club to think of the children by opining that âÂÂwe canâÂÂt talk to the kids about international solidarity anymore. WeâÂÂll have to tell them about petrodollars, and thatâÂÂs not the same.âÂÂ
Johan Vehils attempts but ultimately fails to get excited about UNICEFâÂÂs relegation to the players' bum-zones when writing that âÂÂthe most important aspect about the shirt is not the design, nor the sponsor but how to feel it. In this way our players are the best in the world.âÂÂ
Over in Capital City, both Marca and AS are still sulking over UEFAâÂÂs refusal to punish Sergio Busquets for the alleged racial abuse of Marcelo during the first leg of the El Clasico Champions League semi-final clash last month.
Marca do at least recognise why no action was taken, with TuesdayâÂÂs editorial noting that âÂÂthere is no conclusive evidence that shows the alleged racist insult.â AS shrug that this decision simply follows on from the supposed philosophy of both the Spanish FA and UEFA which decrees that âÂÂif in doubt, go pro-Barça.âÂÂ
Sport reacted to the response and the idea that Busquets was even investigated in the first place with hostile intent with Josep MarÃÂa Casanovas suggesting that the Forces of Mordor should be blanked for a while. âÂÂItâÂÂs difficult to maintain relations with a club who try to harm you again and again. Breaking all institutional relations would be the deserved gesture.âÂÂ
LLL feels the Sport writer should instead be focussing his energies and concentration on what will happen in nine days time, when Barcelona walk out on to the Wembley pitch to face Manchester United with their most imperious power source - the neutron star that is the clubâÂÂs moral superiority over everyone else - irreparably damaged...
