Barcelona are finally playing football worthy of Leo Messi’s greatness again

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There have been particular moments all through Barcelona‘s 6-1 annihilation of Actual Sociedad, however none gave you the feeling they’re again fairly like Lionel Messi‘s second, the icing on the cake within the 88th minute.

It’s been a very long time since watching Barcelona felt like a deal with, nearly with a assure that you just have been in for great leisure.

Their numerous highs – Ronaldinho at his most enjoyable, Guardiola’s revolution, Tito Vilanova’s 100-point record-breakers and Luis Enrique’s unrelenting facet with Luis Suarez and Neymar up high alongside Messi – have been the closest factor trendy soccer has needed to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Continuously on condition that late Sunday night slot within the glory years of Sky Sports activities’ La Liga protection, they have been the right antidote to that finish of weekend dread, with Terry Gibson or Gerry Armstrong on co-commentary obligation, proper there with you marvelling at a type of soccer you’d by no means seen earlier than.

They felt just like the legendary exhibition matches of Pele’s Santos, occurring in a aggressive league surroundings.

Rayo Vallecano, Elche, Actual Valladolid, whoever – it not often mattered, invariably the opposition felt like extras in Barcelona’s story. Like helpless cannon fodder to Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando.

However these events have felt more and more few and much between following the sale of Neymar in 2017 and the membership’s gradual decline.

Messi has remained a towering presence, nearly single-handedly main the membership to back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019, however the facet round him began to resemble Argentina, in any other case abnormal within the shadow of his greatness. Sooner or later throughout Ernesto Valverde’s reign, they stopped being appointment viewing.

Amid institutional disaster, Messi’s artistry – 25 objectives and a record-breaking 21 assists in La Liga – wasn’t sufficient in 2019-20, which means a uncommon trophyless season, ending up 5 factors behind Zinedine Zidane’s stable however unspectacular Actual Madrid.

But once more, the Argentinian – now Barcelona’s all-time high look maker and the highest scorer in any of Europe’s leagues with 467 objectives within the Spanish high flight – has been in scintillating kind, with 19 objectives and 7 assists in 19 appearances for the reason that flip of the yr.

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His kind has received Barcelona again in competition for a home double, and now the supporting solid are beginning to shimmer round him. In opposition to La Actual you have been transported again to 2010; completely charming soccer you daren’t miss watching.

Not solely are La Blaugrana choosing up outcomes – unbeaten in 16 in La Liga, with 12 wins from the final 13 – however they’re beginning to do it in model, and at Anoeta, the place even the nice sides of the previous didn’t register a win between 2010 and 2017 (5 defeats, three attracts).

Messi and Jordi Alba demonstrated their telekinetic understanding within the build-up to Antoine Griezmann’s opener, 20-year-old American proper wing-back Sergino Dest did his finest Dani Alves impression with two objectives, and Ousmane Dembele reminded us why there was a lot hype round him at Borussia Dortmund with a high-quality solo effort.

Pushing as much as the ultimate third and fizzing with concepts and fast interaction, Actual Sociedad got their hardest check of the season towards a facet brimming with confidence, with arguably the best participant in historical past at their coronary heart.

But it surely wasn’t till the ultimate minutes – after Actual Sociedad had struck again with arguably the aim of the sport from their proficient 19-year-old winger Ander Barrenetxea – that you just felt like have been really watching a basic Barcelona demolition job.

Typically in recent times, Barcelona have appeared comfortable to declare, conserving their vitality as soon as they’d gotten into a cushty lead, however on Sunday night at Anoeta they appeared imbued by the spirit of Marcelo Bielsa. At all times hungry for extra.

What a transfer this was for Messi’s second aim! 😍

Classic Barcelona on an evening once they hit Actual Sociedad for six 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VVV2kcLTsv

— Premier Sports activities 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) March 21, 2021

Within the 88th minute, Ronald Koeman’s males had eight gamers swarming across the opposition field, enjoying it out from their very own half with slick passing, every participant not often taking greater than a few touches, drawing Actual Sociedad to the ball to open up area.

Ultimately, fittingly, it was Messi on the finish of the transfer, with a easy end from 9 yards, having featured prominently in serving to minimize by means of.

On a weekend the place Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick to keep Real Madrid snapping at their heels, and Jan Oblak made a crucial last-minute penalty save to maintain Atletico 4 factors clear on the high, the stress was on Barcelona to maintain the tempo.

Not solely did they step as much as the plate, however they did so with a classic efficiency. If that is 2010 once more, put aside two hours of your weekend to observe Barcelona. You’re not going to need to miss soccer like this.

By Nestor Watach