Mission complete! Now to take on Bayern Munich

At stadiums like that of Cadiz is where La Ligas are lost. Not won, but lost. Slip-ups against modest clubs are what cost teams. History is full of examples. Barcelona have been protagonists in many of these fiascos. In the last two seasons, for example, they were capable only of getting 2 points from 12 against them. They played again on Saturday but with one eye on Bayern Munich in a key Champions League clash. Xavi rotated.

There were nine changes from the Plzen game, with starts for Bellerin, Pique, Ferran Torres and Memphis. He left Pedri, Dembele and Lewandowski on the bench; the temptation to do so was too high, despite warning the team about slip-ups. The squad is bigger, more talented and more competitive. Xavi has to use that depth to manage his resources and the minutes. Where better to do that than the bottom-of-the-table side who had not scored a goal or won a point.

Koeman, a year ago, was part of a surreal press conference ahead of the game against Cadiz. He read a statement and refused to answer any questions. It was the start of the end of his reign as Barcelona coach. He finished that game with a 0-0 draw and the agony began. A month later, he was sacked. Barcelona’s situation now is nothing like that. They have utter consensus in Xavi, but the demand is the same - winning.

Xavi knows it and so in the second half, on came Pedri, Dembele and Lewandowski. After De Jong’s opportunistic goal, came the Pole for the second. He has nine in six games and is ready to face his former side, Bayern. The ‘trick’ game against Cadiz is over, and now they can concentrate on changing the story of recent years in Munich at the Allianz Arena.