END OF AN ERA

This past weekend Barca was unceremoniously defeated 1-1 by Atletico Madrid. Defeated, you ask?

Barca trailed Atletico by three points going into this final game. The Blaugrana needed a win to secure the Spanish league title. For Atletico, a draw would be sufficient for them to win the title.

Barca came out strong. Soon thereafter two of Atletico's top players had to leave the field due to injuries. Then, Barca took the lead after a blistering shot by Alexis Sanchez. At halftime, Barca clung to a 1-0 lead.

However, in the second half, Atletico came out like men possessed. They quickly put Barca on the defensive and soon scored an equalizing goal. The air left the stadium, and it was clear that Barca were on the ropes.

Barca tried mightily to score once again, but most of there efforts were individual. A single player trying to doing it himself. There was no cohesive in the attack and no coordination. This was a great departure from the tiki-taka, or total football, team approach that is ingrained in the club's DNA.

Atletico, on the other hand, played as a team. They hunted the Barca players in packs and functioned in concert. Soon, the final whistle blew, and the best team had won.

We will bounce back. Our club will see better days, but this will only happen if we learn from the defeats of this miserable trophyless season. We need new players, but we do not need a new way of being.

Indeed, if Atletico has taught us anything, it is that playing team football is not only beautiful, it is also highly effective.