• Direct, narration and statistics

Barcelona collapses in the League, unable to bear the pace of anyone who makes you want. In Balaídos, despite a stimulating first half, despite Luis Suárez's two goals , he ended up paying a high price for his usual fear of emptiness. First he lost the smile. Then the ball. Until a lash of direct free kick by Iago Aspas , an old scourge, encrusted those of Quique Setién in despair. Griezmann turned at the barrier and lost sight of a ball that Ter Stegen could never reach. A hellish ménage à trois that forces the memory of Stojkovic , Míchel and Zubizarretain Italy '90. Then, Spain was out of the World Cup. Now, Barcelona will have to dream not only that each home game will cease to be torture (25 points lost), but that Real Madrid will abandon. Neither one nor the other seem simple.

Leo Messi believes in Luis Suárez. For the good, and also for the bad. He knows that his friend is too close to dusk. That the knee has already burst and the ankles are made of methacrylate. But he will never find an ally with the Uruguayan's willpower, a striker so strange, sometimes so rough, sometimes so delicate, that it is not difficult to go from scorn to flattery. Suárez, assisted by Messi, claimed his legacy in Balaídos with two goals (193 as a Barcelona player) that left one of Kubala . But that was not even enough for Barcelona to end the afternoon with the same gesture of frustration that has accompanied him from Rome . From Liverpool .

Even Messi wonders are of little use. Geniuses are distinguished by their ability to create on land where no one expects anything anymore. «Artistic creation is not continuous, but discontinuous. It is produced by jerking. At the endless middle ages », Dalí admitted in his last days, when he was already aware of having finished his work. Messi continues to fuel the call of his creative process. At 33 years old. And when there is someone who ventures the approach of sunset. In Balaídos, however, the striker showed that football can still continue to evolve under the influence of his booty.

The latest fashion to avoid Messi's free-kick goals was to depopulate the barrier and distribute the defenders under the crossbar. Óscar García , Celta coach, believed it convenient for two of his men to take care of protecting each of the clubs, leaving the goalkeeper in the middle of the goal. Three defenses would form in the barrier, while the rest of the players would organize themselves in a sort of zonal defense. Before all those stocks Messi had only to impose sanity. He thus forgot about the direct shot and to the surprise of those around him found glory in the assist. Luis Suárez, without any mark in the small area, had only to continue with his head to the genius of the Argentine.

The children of La Masia

That Barcelona took the lead was only the logical consequence of the Barca's good tone in the first act. The answer had to be found in the initial plan. Perhaps the pressure was already unbearable in the face of such an accumulation of bland days. Parties in which the day laborers were carried away by the routine and inertia of the famished. Perhaps there would be no other choice in the face of a shrinking squad and with well-despised players to make up the accounts (Arthur), well baffled by their invisibility (Griezmann). Perhaps it was simply time to live, not to survive. Only Setién, who a week ago spoke of the benefits of veterans, knows the real reasons why he finally formed with Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati .

Aspas laments after Nolito's forgiveness. Lavandeira jrEFE

Those two children -20 years the midfielder, 17 the striker- were responsible for helping Messi carry the weight of the club. While Barcelona will have the opportunity to demonstrate that La Masia is much more than a propaganda claim. Much more than a banner to hide behind.

Riqui, loose in advance, offered an unusual dynamism between the lines. While Ansu Fati was allowed to face with the support of Jordi Alba . All this motivated Messi to lie down again and again to the mountain, aware that this time he would have someone to follow him. It was lacking, yes, the success. It is not a small thing.

Nolito's clemency

After Suárez bagged the first goal of the match, Messi was left to leave Ansu alone in front of the goalkeeper. He did not react quickly. Then he complained about a penalty. So did La Pulga. But the VAR would not come to the rescue.

Celta, on the other hand, knew how to grow along with Barcelona's losses. As Umtiti's back was the most appropriate place to advance, Piqué stayed up to three times defending inferiorly against the attackers. Until Rakitic missed the ball, Okay started to run and Smolov scored the equalizer to the empty goal.

Barcelona believed that, this time, it could get up. Messi caught a ball and wound up Suarez again, splendid in the turn and in the shot on goal.

But that 1-2, far from calming the azulgrana, stoked their fears. Ter Stegen's hands denied Nolito . But even the guardian angels can no longer continue to take care of a Barcelona without remedy.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports
  • First division
  • soccer

LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020The first 'injury' of Felipe and Carrasco's revalidation

LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020Athletic and Atlético hinder in San Mamés

LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020Simeone's digital staging: "Now five minutes will have more value"

See links of interest

  • Last minute
  • Spanish translator
  • Programming
  • 2020 calendar
  • Horoscope today
  • League classification
  • Santander League Calendar
  • Movies today
  • Themes
  • Real Madrid - Casademont Zaragoza
  • Juventus - Lecce
  • Seville - Real Valladolid
  • Celta de Vigo - Barcelona
  • Atlético de Madrid - Alavés