Barcelona have their most exciting team in years. But you need to know about seny and rauxa

• In Catalonia, there are two character archetypes distinctive to this region of Spain: seny and rauxa.

Both Catalan words are slightly difficult to translate directly to English. The first stands for wisdom, mental balance and common sense. Those described by the second are more fun, impulsive or passionate, the kind of person who acts spontaneously without overthinking.

Let’s not kid ourselves here: there are far more people in the first category, especially when it comes to Barcelona’s stoic fanbase.

Avui patirem. (Today we will suffer).

This phrase is often heard at the Camp Nou, particularly from veteran season ticket holders. Longstanding Barca fans have learned to suffer over many years of disappointment, and decades of living with a team that held a monopoly in the country: Real Madrid.

The dynamic began to change during the 1990s, and was greatly altered during Lionel Messi’s magical years, but remnants of that attitude still exist today, despite Barca being one of the biggest clubs in the world.

These days, a more commonly heard (and closely associated) phrase has been, “Let’s see if we can keep this up for the whole season”. At Barcelona, pessimism is at best postponed.

It might come as a surprise that such a large proportion of the local fanbase still reflect that sense of caution, at a time when Hansi Flick’s side are playing so brilliantly.

What it really means is that people are more excited about Barcelona now than they have been for a very long time.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha celebrate scoring at Levante

In Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, Barcelona have one of the most potent attacking duos in EuropeClive Brunskill/Getty Images

There are two eras held up as benchmarks: the so-called Dream Team led by Johan Cruyff (1988–96) and Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona (2008–12).

Under Cruyff, Barca won four straight La Liga titles (1991-94) and their first European Cup in 1992 (the competition was rebranded and called the Champions League the following season). Under Guardiola, Barca won three consecutive league titles (2009-11) and the Champions League twice, including their first European treble in 2008-09 (they also won it in 2015).

Flick has won two straight league titles since arriving in 2024 and the team have to be considered heavy favourites to win a third, even as early as October. They have won each of their opening seven games, scoring 31 goals in the process, and lead second-placed Atletico Madrid by five points. Real Madrid are in fourth, six points behind Barca.

Raphinha has scored 14 goals in eight games as the Spanish champions have started the season in exciting fashion

“I’m a responsible optimist,” said one contributor to a recent talk show on the Cadena SER radio station, asked whether supporters could start getting excited. Not to be optimistic about this team would be disrespectful to the coaching staff and the players of this squad. But they will soon be properly put to the test.

Barcelona celebrate after winning the European Cup in 1992

Barcelona beat Sampdoria 1-0 after extra time at Wembley to win the European Cup in 1992Allsport/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Barca have started this term in scintillating fashion, but over the rest of October they face a far more difficult run that includes an away trip to Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain (October 20) and a home Clasico against Real Madrid (October 25). On November 8 they travel to Atletico, who knocked them out of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League last term.

If they pass these tests, they will have to be put in the conversation for comparison with both those previous eras. Even the most sceptical of supporters are beginning to acknowledge this. The emotional floodgates may finally open a little: dream, yes, but with caution.

Barcelona players pose with the Champions League trophy in 2009

Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in RomeAlberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

This is not Guardiola’s Barcelona. It would be absurd to suggest otherwise. But there are things about this team that feel familiar. They have the same DNA, the hunger, the relentlessness, the feeling that superiority over the opponent is not enough unless it is reflected on the scoreboard again and again.

Guardiola’s Barca did not merely win matches; they imposed a way of playing that made the opponent look smaller. They created the uncomfortable feeling, for anyone playing against them, that even when you had survived one attack, another was already coming.

Opponents had to find ways of dealing with their possession, their pressing, their positioning, their technical quality. Their influence went beyond the trophies. Cruyff took three campaigns to win a first league title and four to win the European Cup. Guardiola won everything in his debut season.

It is obviously too early to say that this Barcelona will have that kind of impact. But there are familiar ingredients. One of them is the willingness to trust young players.

Why La Masia stars are the heroes of Barcelona's title win

Lamine Yamal is the most spectacular example, but he is not alone. Pau Cubarsi has become an important part of the defence. Marc Bernal has been given responsibility. La Masia is once again visible in the personality of the team and Xavi Espart is the latest gem to emerge. Those four players are all from the same intake of players born in 2007.

Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Xavier Espart were born in 2007 and came through the club's academy

Another parallel: every year that Barcelona have won a Champions League has been one of pure dominance in Spain. All the European Cups they have won have been in seasons when they also won La Liga, and Barcelona have been dominant domestically for two years now.

Teams that have defined an era at Barcelona, like Guardiola’s, overcame their seny and imposed their rauxa. Flick’s team has plenty of the latter.

It is a team that unashamedly says it wants to win the Champions League and that this, and nothing else, is the objective. They are led by Yamal, a player who calls himself the best in the world, and who said he knew he was going to win the World Cup with Spain this summer.

Flick said towards the end of his first season, after reaching the Copa del Rey final with victory over Real Madrid in April 2025, that “dreaming is allowed” at his Barcelona.

The excitement that began with a domestic treble that season has reached a new peak this term. Flick’s third campaign is combining the best of his first two years in charge.

Let’s see where it takes us. But watching them play this term has been the perfect balm for that baked-in stoicism.

Fans are beginning to no longer worry about how much they are going to suffer, and that is already an achievement.