Barcelona have been the best side in Spain by a distance this season — organised, intense, innovative, a well-oiled machine sparked into life by the careful planning of Hansi Flick. But there are two players at the top of this team who convert that collective effort into pure footballing thrill.
Raphinha is simply relentless, up to 34 goals and 22 assists for the season. He put Barcelona into the lead with a classic run in behind and finish, before sweeping in their fourth after more excellent work to pounce on a mistake from right-back Lucas Vazquez.
No one combines hard running and technical quality quite like Raphinha, but he is selfless, too, darting around the pitch to create space for others. He dovetailed excellently with the similarly lively Ferran Torres, taking it in turns to test Madrid’s backpedalling defence. And he probably should have scored twice more, blazing over from point-blank range after meeting two curling crosses at full speed.
Yamal is simply unstoppable. Beguiling and silky on the ball, impossible to keep out of big games even with two defenders on his track. His goal — already a trademark finish — underlined his ludicrous talents. You know exactly what the 17-year-old is going to do, but keeping it out, even for Courtois, is a different matter altogether.
Of the 16 goals Barcelona have put past Madrid this season, Raphinha and Yamal have played a part in 11 of them. They will surely now win the title and have two special players to thank for that.
