Messi brace ensures Barça will go into El Clásico as leaders

Barcelona upped the pressure on Real Madrid by beating Eibar and at the same time, Leo Messi overtook Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga’s top scorer ranking. Luis Enrique’s team passed their examination at Ipurua with the kind of composure associated with those who know exactly what job needs to get done - and how to go about it. With a certain workmanlike air, but with the security of a long-distance runner who knows better than anyone else how to pursue the leader, Barça took all three points after starting out in what seemed a booby-tapped situation. Victory against Eibar means Barcelona pull four points clear of Real Madrid (who play Levante tomorrow), one game before both face each other in a ‘Clásico’ which could determine the outcome of the season. Victory today also means that, whatever happens, Barça will go into that key game top of the table.

Barça have entered into a dynamic where boredom doesn’t necessarily equate with frustration. Right now they are capable of winning key games such as this one with a discipline bordering on the somnambulistic. Luis Enrique’s Barça have mastered the noble art of winning with a casual, carefree air – alternating spells of brilliance at key moments with games which are disposed of as swiftly as someone devouring an Iberian ham apéritif. And against Eibar, it was one of those games which they won like someone answering text messages on their mobile phone whilst sipping a vermouth. The main course however, comes next week. The first course is Manchester City and the main meal is against Real Madrid. That is when they must display the talent and professionalism they showed in Ipurua.

The Asturian coach has managed to confect a system whereby rotations start in attack and work themselves backwards. While the front three are playing at their habitual level, it doesn’t really matter what happens behind them. You could even go as far as saying that in certain games, all three of them don’t even need to play well. While one of them does play well, Barça can take 90 per cent of their games forwards. Another thing is whether this recipe will work a week tomorrow against Madrid and this Wednesday against Man City.

Today’s display can be resumed by Barça’s tight organization at the back, commitment in the centre of the park, no unnecessary frills or over-indulgence and let Messi do the rest. Messi took part in all of the important parts of the job, starting with a fabulous move on 21 minutes when he dribbled his way past half of Eibar but Neymar was unable to finish it off, he then provoked the penalty which he scored himself before killing the game off with a diving header from a corner. Such a huge player is Messi that he passes all of his pending trials in the most unsuspected places. Recently, those include his success rate from the penalty spot and his registry from set-pieces. Tonight, in a stadium where, when the ball is heading out, it usually ends up in a nearby street, he rectified both problems.

Luis Enrique, with el Clásico and the City game in mind, rested Mascherano and Mathieu as well as Xavi and Iniesta. A move which minimized the extravagance in Barça game but had no effect on the result they were after. Barcelona remain leaders thanks to a Messi who is in his element and who has netted five goals in his last two games. That means the Blaugranas will be pole position when next week’s Clásico comes around and once again, the team will place their trust in the in-form Argentinean.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1GFmART

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