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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Makes Alexis Sanchez the Hero
The same old story for Barcelona with a twist; Lionel Messi only setting up the dramatic winner after poor defending jeopardizes everything this team does well, allowing Alexis Sanchez to come off the bench and find himself in the hero’s seat for a change.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Knows He Should Do Better
Two Super Cup matches, no victories. Barcelona are making their way into the new season quite slowly, which means Lionel Messi is clearly out of shape or still suffering from some sort of injury, while his combination with Neymar wasn’t there to be seen and their defensive problems continue to be something that will haunt this team for the rest of the season.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Came Back Hungrier Than Ever
Maybe it was about the players showing their new manager they don’t care if he didn’t come from “within”, or maybe it was about Lionel Messi showing Neymar how it’s done at Barcelona, which means trying to score and finish off the match as early as possible.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Waiting for Cesc Fabregas & Alexis Sanchez to Help Him
One of the two big problems Barcelona need to take care of this offseason is their over-dependence on Lionel Messi. Neymar, even if it will take some time, should be good enough to become a suitable solution, but not on his own. For Barcelona to be completely free and deadly up front against all opponents, Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez need to do better than they have so far.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi & Neymar Still Waiting For Their Partner
For the first time since his arrival, Neymar got to play in a match with Lionel Messi, as the two spent 16 minutes on the pitch together. The question regarding the identity of the third forward that will play next to them, Pedro Rodriguez or Alexis Sanchez, has yet to be sorted.
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FC Barcelona – Pedro Rodriguez & Alexis Sanchez Hope They’re Not Forgotten
Positive for the summer: David Villa was sold to Atletico Madrid, leaving the Barcelona frontline just a little bit thinner. Bad news? Neymar arrived and Cristian Tello got an impressive new extension, keeping Pedro Rodriguez an Alexis Sanchez in a weird place heading into next season.
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FC Barcelona – Alexis Sanchez, David Villa & Pedro Trying to Win a Place for Next Season
What’s left for Barcelona to play for? Reaching the 100 points mark, a club record, and for certain players, especially forwards like Alexis Sanchez, David Villa and Pedro to try and prove they deserve a place with the team in the future, as it appears at least one of them will probably be sold in order to clear a spot for Neymar.
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Lionel Messi Won’t Be Part of the Barcelona Garbage Time
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.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Shouldn’t be This Important
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.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Was Abandoned By Tito Vilanova
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.