Camp Nou

Barcelona triumphed against Real Madrid thanks to two unlikely heroes. This felt like a decisive victory.

[Vinicius Junior](https://theathletic.com/football/player/vinicius-junior-RYkvBJoMUnRgM6AO/) provoked a [Ronald Araujo](https://theathletic.com/football/player/ronald-araujo-L9uymwj02cIEF3Gu/) own goal, his cross wrong-footing the [Uruguay](https://theathletic.com/football/team/uruguay/) defender. Not that anyone in the dressing room seemed to care. “It’s one of my best moments as a Barcelona manager,” Xavi said. That decision following a VAR check produced a roar from the Camp Nou crowd as Xavi urged his players on. [Barcelona](https://theathletic.com/football/team/fc-barcelona/)’s squad last summer was fuelled by a survival instinct. But the calmness with which he slotted home more than justified his introduction given the absolute chaos of the game — as the celebrations which followed proved. While this is his first year at Barca, those around the club have expressed doubts as to whether the 26-year-old has what it takes to succeed at Barca. His game was extraordinary, it’s a pleasure to be his manager.” That he was trusted to start against a midfield of He did not seem to possess the talent to be a Barca midfielder or the defensive skills to play at right-back. Both players have faced their fair share of criticism and may have thought changing people’s minds was a lost cause. At the end of it, two survivors were responsible for a victory which might have clinched Xavi’s first major title as a coach.