It’s so rare to have Lionel Messi start and play an entire La Liga match for Barcelona without scoring even once, but at this stage of the season, with the title officially secured, what’s the point? Tito Vilanova didn’t ask too much of his players, who some of them, like Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas, need to show in the final moments that they deserve to be entrusted with his faith for next season, but they delivered three more points anyway, as Messi played his final match before he officially begins his summer vacation. More
It shouldn’t be this way, not for a huge club like Barcelona. Things shouldn’t hinge on the amount of minutes one player, as talented as he may be, plays each time. And yet once more Lionel Messi came on for a cameo appearance to save his team from defeat with one wonder goal and another assist, although eventually it wasn’t enough for more than a meaningless draw. More
To some it felt like giving up. Tito Vilanova forgot he has a bench, but worst, he failed to realize Lionel Messi, the man his entire game plan is based on, wasn’t really fit for the match, thus sending Barcelona on something close to a hopeless mission, from which they return home battered and bruised like never before. More
I’m sure Cesc Fabregas is a better player with Lionel Messi on the pitch, but for yet another week, he manages to do things, mostly score a goal, while the biggest star on the Barcelona squad takes another day off heading into more important matches, while the Spanish La Liga is not proving to be too much of a challenge, even on one of the most unimpressive displays from the soon-to-be-champions this season. More
Staying healthy for so long is a matter of luck, among other things. Lionel Messi scored a goal that should have opened the floodgates towards a comfortable away win for Barcelona and securing a semifinal spot. Instead, Messi limped off with a hamstring injury that should keep him out of the second leg, while Barca have a complicated job ahead of them. More
After a couple of seasons in which Arsenal have seen Barcelona take away two of their best players without really putting up much of a fight, they plan on doing the same thing to the Spanish club, although with players who are a bit more unsettled at the Nou Camp, aiming to purchase David Villa, Victor Valdes and Alexis Sanchez for next season. More
The goal was to steady the ship, after one of the rockiest 10 days Barcelona have been through in quite some time. While Lionel Messi and to most people’s surprise, Alexis Sanchez, set up a much needed league win over an insignificant rival, everyone thoughts are geared towards later on this week. More
The best thing about playing for a big club like Barcelona, is it keeps you in demand for a very long time regardless of your ability. Alexis Sanchez is having one of the worst seasons a forward can have, but that still isn’t keeping Liverpool and Manchester City from hoping to sign him. More
The matches Barcelona have left until their second leg in the Champions Leg comes up aren’t necessarily about winning and advancing, but more as ways to find how to gain the confidence back on offense against an excellent defense and stop conceding goals. Lionel Messi, hopefully playing next to David Villa, can help take care of one of the two. More
The Spanish La Liga is so over, and we’re only in the middle of January. Barcelona are on cruise control for the rest of the season while bigger challenges await in the Champions League, although it doesn’t mean Lionel Messi is going to stop scoring. More