Gamper

The founder of the club was Joan Gamper. He was born in Switzerland, moved to Barcelona and in 1899 created the FC Barcelona. Mr. Gamper scored 120 goals and later became club president. After FC Barcelona got scandalized and painted as a Catalan separatist team, he fell on hard times and took his own life in 1930. Mr. Gamper remains the great spiritual martyr of the club.

Hence, they play the Gamper invitational Cup at the Camp Nou as the last pre-season game for the team. Today's game brought AC Milan to the stadium and it was Ronaldinho's return to the stadium 2 years after his being traded to Milan.


photo by Dennis Doyle

Ronnie had played five landmark seasons and left just as Pep Guardiola became coach and steered the team to pure class. Ronaldinho has been sited by him as an inspiration for their renaissance, and he was greeted with love. Puyol, even called him with the squad for the pre-game team photograph.



The game was dominated by Barça, though they seemed perpetually unsettled at playing at least six substitutions during it's course. Ibrá looked like tall crap and it is possible he may be traded in the next few days. They are also talking about acquiring Mascherano, though where they would put the Liverpool/Argentine defensive wall is puzzling. They already have Puyol and el matador, Pique.

The other new guy, David Villa played the first half and he scored the only regulation goal for the team. But why does he have to suck his thumb after he scores? I hope Pep talks that shit out of him...



Milan scored in the second half and neither Messi, nor Pedro or Bojan could break through to the winning goal. Game went to penalties and second choice goalie Pinto stopped three of Milan's and, thump!, Barça wins the Gamper Cup.

Young men keep playing this game. Some grow into the organization after the pitch. They build the team up in different architecture of the game's philosophy. Swiss, Brazilian, Dutch and Catalán, it's a collection of guys that are willing to sweat, bleed, play and love for the team. At all costs.

Supercopa

FC Barcelona are lifting the Super Copa right now, having trounced Sevilla 4-0 at the Camp Nou.

Today was all about showing how the team is the perfect activator of Messi's talent. Messi scored a hat-trick and he was set up with grace and beauty by his teammates. Alves gifted him incredibly on a break, and Xavi found Leo with a world-class pass to set his score. It was like some best-of football from the team of National side players.



Pedro started off the scoring about 15 minutes into the game with a stunning run and cross that was knocked in by Konko of Sevilla. After that, the superstar from Argentina who'd had a disappointing World Cup took over the scoring. But though the game was dominated by one man, the team play of the side was second to none. They found their sneaky passes and breaks upfield with a unity that defines their style.

Barça have come back from a loss last week in Seviila 3-1 in the first game of the two-game series. Ibra scored a goal, but then the team unraveled from the absence of their linchpins. Xavi, Pedro, Valdes, Pique and Puyol were all playing for Spain's national team in Mexico (which ended in a 1-1 tie at the Estadio Azteca), and the World Cup goal winner himself, Andrés Iniesta was still resting. The team looked shaky and the B-team substitutes didn't rise. It was played like a lost cause to be decided in the second game, played today in Barcelona with their full squad.

Lot's of football being played. Too many cups and trophies. The Super Cup is less than 20 years old and played between the two winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey. It was presumed that Barça would win the cup. When they play like they did today--so pretty and unstoppable--they lift it with class.