Barcelona's fans have grown used to reading criticism aimed at the club from the Madrid press. So it came as a surprise when the Spanish newspaper "Marca", known for its Real Madrid leanings, offered striking praise for one of the Catalan side's most prominent summer signings.
"Barcelona have signed a missile".. that is how "Marca" headlined its report on the Englishman Anthony Gordon, after he caught the eye on his appearance against Elche.
Pace is Gordon's most prominent weapon, and "Marca" made it the centrepiece of their coverage. His top speed reached 37.92 kilometres per hour, the highest ever recorded in the Champions League, and he was also the fastest player at the last World Cup.
Numbers were not the whole story. The newspaper pointed to what Gordon did against Elche, when he set off with the ball for around 20 metres, pulled away from his marker by three metres, went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and squared the ball to Fermin Lopez for Barcelona's fourth goal.
That moment, "Marca" reckoned, laid bare the player's abilities. Barcelona now possess a genuine weapon on the left flank, especially with Karim Adeyemi on the right, another player blessed with great pace.
The praise did not stop at pace. The Madrid newspaper also flagged Gordon's knack for pressing opponents, using his speed to recover the ball and win it back from rivals.
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Here lies the irony: Gordon was not the headline name in Barcelona's plans to bolster their attack. The focus at the start of the summer had fallen on signing an out-and-out striker, especially with Robert Lewandowski's departure to the American league.
Hansi Flick was the man behind the idea. He had followed the player throughout last season, watched him closely during Newcastle's Champions League ties and convinced the club's management to bring in the English winger.
Barcelona had abandoned the idea of triggering the option to buy Marcus Rashford for 30 million euros before moving for Gordon, in a deal worth 70 million euros fixed, plus 10 million euros in variables.
Proof came quickly. Gordon provided two assists in his first match, and his ability to play as an out-and-out striker hands Flick an extra option in the front line.