Madrid (AFP)
Prestigious success for FC Barcelona: with a victory snatched 2-1 thanks to the metronome Jordi Alba against the ex-leader, Real Sociedad, on Wednesday in the advanced match of the 19th day of La Liga, the Catalans offered themselves a start of breathing before the end of year holidays.
Ronald Koeman's men were first surprised by a goal from Willian José after a corner kick (27th) as they dominated the match, but immediately responded with two goals from Jordi Alba, after an extended ball in the box (31st), and Frenkie de Jong, found by an adjusted cross from Alba in front of goal, just before the break (43rd).
With this success, the Blaugranas are temporarily up to 5th place in the standings, six points behind the new leader, Atlético Madrid (26 pts), who has one game less than them.
Three points gleaned from a good collective game against a team in great shape since the start of the season, unbeaten for nine days and who conceded their first loss of the season away at Camp Nou on Wednesday, their second overall in championship.
But a victory especially offered by the great performance of certain individuals, like the briscard Jordi Alba: the faithful supplier of balls to Lionel Messi, who returned from a hamstring injury in the right thigh this fall, has regained his best level in his left lane, with a goal, an assist ...
And several offerings missed by Antoine Griezmann, author for example of an incredible failure in the recovery of a center of Alba, by returning the ball in the gloves of Alex Remiro (55th).
"We had the best game of the season," Jordi Alba said on Movistar + at the final whistle.
"It was our best first half of all our games so far," agreed Ronald Koeman at a press conference.
In the wake of the Catalan and Spanish international taulier Alba (31 years old, 70 caps), several young people from Barça have also distinguished themselves against the former Basque leader, like Pedri, 18 years old and perhaps the best Barcelona on the pitch on Wednesday, who notably saved his own with a ready-made goal from Alexander Isak (73rd), or the Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong (23), author of his first goal this season and who asserts itself match after match.
Messi, mown down by French defender Robin Le Normand at the end of the game (80th), is only one goal away from joining Pelé as the top scorer in history in one and the same club (643 goals with Santos between 1958 and 1974, when Messi is 642 with Barca), but failed to match the record of the "King" Wednesday at Camp Nou.
He will have to wait until the reception of Valencia CF on Saturday (4:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. GMT) to have another chance to catch up with the Brazilian legend.
© 2020 AFP