According to reports, the difference in mood and achievements is quite evident. Last season, Barcelona had 70 points in La Liga after a 1-0 victory over Cadiz in the 31st week, and now Flick’s team has reached the same 70 points with a similar 1-0 win against Leganes. Both teams had gone unbeaten in 13 consecutive matches at this stage—Xavi since a loss to Villarreal in January, and Flick with an even longer unbeaten streak, now reaching 24 games, one of Barcelona’s best runs in recent years.

The key difference in La Liga is this: last year, Real Madrid was leading with 78 points, 8 points ahead of Barcelona, while now Barcelona tops the table with a 4-point lead over Real (66 points).

There are similarities in the Champions League as well. Last season, Barcelona defeated Napoli in the Round of 16 and then won 3-2 against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the quarter-finals, making progression seem likely. However, everything collapsed in a week. In the return leg, Ronald Araujo’s early red card in the 10th minute led to a heavy 4-1 defeat, eliminating Barcelona from Europe.

Four days later, Real Madrid won 3-2 in El Clasico, extending the gap to 11 points and effectively ending Barcelona’s title hopes in La Liga. Within seven days, Xavi’s team lost all competitions and ended the season without a trophy.

In contrast, Flick has kept Barcelona alive in all competitions. The team not only leads La Liga but also has a high chance of advancing in the Champions League after a dominant 4-0 first-leg victory over Borussia Dortmund. In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona has reached the final and will face Real Madrid on April 26. Additionally, the Spanish Super Cup triumph with a 5-2 win over Real brought Flick his first trophy of the season.

Beyond statistics, the mood in Flick’s team is entirely different. Barcelona fans have flocked back to Montjuic, with average attendance per match 5,000 higher than last season. Talking about a treble is no longer taboo at the club, and excitement is palpable everywhere.

Unlike Xavi’s fragile team, which collapsed in critical moments, Flick’s Barcelona displays confidence and stability. This difference in mood clearly makes Flick the winner of this comparison.