As Sevilla faces off against Real Madrid, one notable figure is reminiscing about a different era in his career.
Former Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez has shared his reflections on his time at Barça, a period that continues to hold a special significance for him more than a decade later.
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Sanchez donned the Barcelona jersey for three seasons from 2011 to 2014. During this time, he frequently participated in El Clasico encounters and scored three goals against Real Madrid.
One particular goal stands out among the rest. It occurred in October 2013 at Camp Nou.
In a tightly contested match against Madrid, Sanchez noticed goalkeeper Diego Lopez was slightly off his line.
What happened next was a perfectly executed chip that gracefully sailed into the net, clinching a crucial victory for Barça.
This goal was not only decisive but also memorable for its quality and daring execution.
Reflecting on the Moment
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He recounted the sequence of events and noted how even his teammates were left in awe of what had transpired.
“I saw a ball that Neymar was holding, made a diagonal run, and noticed the goalkeeper was a bit off his line… bang…
“I scored the goal and we celebrated with Ney and Leo [Messi], and he asked me, ‘Did you intend to hit it that way?’ Of course I did!
Alexis Sanchez netted a memorable goal against Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
“They were surprised I executed it like that. I had aimed to chip it. It was a stunning goal and it went down in history,” Sanchez shared with ESPN, as quoted by SPORT.
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That celebration with Messi and Neymar vividly illustrated the essence of that Barcelona team—a side brimming with confidence, rhythm, and synergy.
Throughout his extensive career at elite clubs like Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Arsenal, Sanchez has achieved much. Yet, when he looks back, he believes no experience could rival his time in Catalonia.
Reflecting on his years under Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova, Sanchez described a team that felt nearly invincible.
“At that time, yes, I believe we were the best team in the world. It was the dawn of tiki-taka. Everyone was tuning in to watch Barça on TV.
“When we played, we felt like a seamless network on the pitch, connected without uttering a word.
“I had similar experiences at Arsenal, playing alongside Ozil and Santi Cazorla. But at that moment, I was soaring,” the Chilean reflected.