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Barcelona scraped via to the Copa del Rey semi-finals by the pores and skin of their tooth.
In a season that has already seen Atletico Madrid and Actual Madrid befall main shocks in Spain’s largest cup competitors, the Blaugrana got here inside a whisker of struggling a ‘cupset’ of their very own.
Actually, Granada entered the 88th minute of their quarter-final conflict with an unlikely 2-0 lead courtesy of targets from Kenedy and Roberto Soldado both aspect of half-time.
Granada 3-5 Barcelona
However within the spirit of the 1999 Champions League last, which was fittingly performed in Barcelona, the guests had been capable of power further time with Antoine Griezmann and Jordi Alba firing again.
Conceding within the 92nd minute was an enormous blow for Granada, however their battle did not finish there, drawing issues stage at 3-3 via Fede Vico after Griezmann had given Barca the lead for the primary time.
Ultimately, although, the Blaugrana did put on down the resistance from Diego Martinez’s males with Frenkie de Jong making it 4-3 and Alba scoring a spectacular volley for his second of the sport.
Messi’s good efficiency
So, all in all, it was a loopy recreation on the Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes, however one which confirmed the type of grit and willpower that is been missing from Barca in cup competitions lately.
Nonetheless, simply because a sure Lionel Messi wasn’t on the scoresheet in Andalusia it doesn’t suggest that he did not have an element to play.
Actually, there’s good motive to suppose that Messi was really deserving of the Man of the Match award, taking part in an important position in all 5 of Barcelona’s targets towards Granada’s cussed back-line.
Messi’s particular person highlights
Messi was even awarded a 10/10 rating by statisticians SofaScore with probably the most touches (160), key passes (10), photographs on course (7) and profitable dribbles (9) of anybody on the pitch.
Mix that with an help, 90 correct passes and 10 duels received for an astonishing contribution from the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
However information apart, there is no higher method to decide a efficiency than the attention take a look at and Twitter user @LSComps has carried out soccer followers an enormous favour by compiling Messi’s particular person highlights.
In the brilliant words of one fan in particular: “I hope individuals watch Messi’s efficiency tonight and perceive why targets or assists won’t ever inform near the total story with him. He’s on the coronary heart of each assault, all of it begins from him.”
GIVEMESPORT’s Kobe Tong says
Not solely do I believe Messi is the very best participant on the planet on present type, however I believe he is the world’s greatest playmaker too – and his efficiency towards Granada proves it.
On his day, Kevin De Bruyne is the higher passer, it should be mentioned, however with the Manchester Metropolis wizard falling shy of his 2019/20 greatness, I am inclined to say that Messi is the highest canine proper now.
It is no coincidence that Messi is rated by WhoScored.com statistics as the best player in Europe’s top five leagues this season, highlighting simply how multi-faceted his skills actually are.
Apart from, if that wasn’t true, then a Messi efficiency that did not reap a single purpose would doubtless have been one to overlook, however that could not have been farther from the case.
As a lot as I am keen on Cristiano Ronaldo, I am unable to think about a world the place a goalless show from him may probably measure as much as the type of playmaking masterclass that Messi produced this week.
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