As Sevilla and Real Madrid go head-to-head, one familiar name is reliving memories from a very different chapter of his career. Former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez has reflected on his time at Ba...
As Sevilla and Real Madrid go head-to-head, one familiar name is reliving memories from a very different chapter of his career.
Former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez has reflected on his time at Barça, a period that still holds a special place in his heart more than a decade later.
Sanchez wore the Barcelona shirt for three seasons between 2011 and 2014. During that spell, he regularly featured in El Clasico and managed to score three goals against Real Madrid.
One of those goals, however, stands above the rest. The moment came in October 2013 at Camp Nou.
Barcelona were locked in a tense battle with Madrid when Sanchez spotted goalkeeper Diego Lopez slightly off his line.
What followed was a perfectly weighted chip that floated into the net, sealing a vital Barça victory.
The goal was not just decisive, but unforgettable for its quality and audacity.
Reflecting on the goal
Speaking about this goal, Sanchez revisited that iconic strike and the celebration that followed, shared with two of football’s greatest names.
He explained how the move developed and why even his teammates were surprised by what they had just seen.
“I see a ball that Neymar is holding, I make a diagonal run, and then I see that the goalkeeper is a little off his line… bang…
“I score the goal and we’re celebrating with Ney and Leo [Messi] and he says to me, ‘Did you mean to hit it like that?’ Yes, of course!
Alexis Sanchez scored a memorable goal vs Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
“They didn’t believe I had hit it like that. I wanted to chip it. It was a beautiful goal and it went down in history,” Alexis Sanchez explained to ESPN, as quoted by SPORT.
That celebration alongside Messi and Neymar perfectly captured the spirit of that Barcelona side. It was a team overflowing with confidence, rhythm, and understanding.
Sanchez has since enjoyed a long career at the top level, representing clubs such as Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
Yet, when reflecting on his journey, he remains convinced that nothing quite compares to his time in Catalonia.
Looking back at those years under Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova, Sanchez described a side that felt almost unbeatable.
“I think at that time, yes, it was the best team in the world. It was the beginning of tiki-taka. Everyone watched Barça on TV.
“We played football, we took to the field and we were like a wireless network, connected without even talking.
“It also happened to me at Arsenal, when I played with Ozil and Santi Cazorla. But I was flying at that moment,” recalls the Chilean.
Category: General Sports
