Well, the Barça, in its first game under new coach Radomir Antic, tied Athletic Bilbao 2-2 here in the Camp Nou. When Antic took over he said something like this to the team, "Look, you guys are in lousy physical condition, and you're all confused because you've been watching way too many tactical videos instead of working out. I'm going to play the guys who are the most experienced because we're under pressure to win, and we're especially going to be tough on defense, work the ball down the sides and center, and practice strategy plays off corners and free kicks since more than 50% of goals are scored on them. Forget all that crap Van Gaal told you and instead look for the counterattack every time you get the ball back. And I'm going to run you guys hard in practice until two days before a game."

Anyway, in the first half Barcelona played like that's what he'd told them and it was great. Antic put in a defense of Bonano in goal, and Reiziger, Puyol, De Boer, and Sorín as the back four. Xavi and Cocu played together as a double pivot, with Overmars out on the right and Mendieta on the left and Saviola and Kluivert up front. Sorín is a pretty good player, and Reiziger looks better when he's playing in his correct position. Overmars is looking better and better; he shredded Athletic's defense through the first half, centering to Saviola's head early for the first goal and then running away with the ball on a fast break, crossing up the goalie. They had several more chances and in general looked like a very good soccer team.

Then came the second half, and right off the bat Sorín committed a penalty that Ezquerro converted for Athletic, and just a few minutes later a confused melee in the area turned into the second Athletic goal. Barça lost its confidence and began to play like usual, and there was no hope of a comeback by about minute 70 Antic put in Riquelme for Mendieta, who had another lousy game; Riquelme wasn't any better. Kluivert muffed a couple of chances as usual. But at least the Barça got a point out of it. It's been a while since we got a point. Barcelona is now in fifteenth place with 24 points, and next week comes the big crosstown derby with resurgent Español, which has begun to play quite well under coach Javier Clemente; they pulled out a 0-0 tie with league leaders Real Sociedad in San Sebastián last night. A Barça loss would be extremely demoralizing and could knock them back as far as 18th place, in the relegation zone.

Most likely the top four teams in the League will go to the Champions' League next year, and the fifth and sixth will go to the UEFA Cup. In addition, the winner of the Spanish Cup gets a UEFA slot; should Depor, the only really good team still alive in the Spanish Cup, win it, then the second-place team goes to the UEFA. Barcelona, of course, got knocked out of the Spanish Cup by some third-division squad in the first round. Real Sociedad is still holding onto first place with 44 points and Real Madrid is right behind them with 42. Valencia has 39, Deportivo 36, and Celta and Betis 33 each. Barca is nine points out of a UEFA spot with seventeen games left to go. Theoretically they could make it into UEFA territory, but they'd have to go on a serious winning streak and hope somebody ahead of them chokes.