The recently crowned Spanish champions dealt Liverpool's Champions League aspirations a telling blow after Messi's double and Suarez's opener ensured the English side traveled back home with a daunting task to overturn a 3-0 deficit next Tuesday.
As usual, as we all have become accustomed to, Messi once again was on alien-mode. In this game? Yes. In the next game ? Yes. And in every other game, yes ! During the build-up to this titanic clash, a lot was asked, about how to nullify the 31-year-old Argentine. In spite of this, stopping Lionel Messi completely was out of the question. He's simply unstoppable. For a player like him, with ridiculous abilities and skills, it's always strenuous, depressing and stressful to keep him under control especially in two high-profiled games.
Irrespective of the fact that Messi decided the game, Ernesto Valverde had his tactics spot on. His conservative approach was what allowed Barça to be rock solid at the back which made it difficult for Liverpool's front men to cause any havoc. After an even and well matched first-half, Liverpool started the second-half on the front foot, strongly and looked likely to restore parity by each passing moment. Mo Salah and Sadio Mane worked brilliantly on the flanks and looked menacing anytime they were in possession. The Merseyside team in fact pinned the home team deep in their own half and incessantly mounted pressure and attacks one after the other. Barca's defense never crumbled, succumbed or capitulated. Lenglet and Pique's partnership was just a delight, with their telepathy giving an impression as if they had played for years. Both were well composed and neatly timed each tackle. Ter Stegen also was superb. He made some great saves which kept Liverpool at bay especially in the second-half until the magical Messi decided to kill the contest. Enough was enough. His great awareness was exhibited as he converted Suarez's rebound off the post. Soon his second of the night followed. A free-kick so far away, almost impossible to convert, against a top-notch world-class Alisson who has already 20 clean-sheets in the Premier League if not more. Messi never really cared about the distance, he knows his abilities. He knows he has magic in his boots. Then he converted, highly demonic and unreal. Just unbelievable. The world was left in deep stupefaction. A technique just out of this world. The power, the speed, the accuracy. Full venom !
Everything about that goal summarized how great Messi has been all these years. Yes all these 12 years, maybe 15 years. He's changed the scripts in football and reinvented new ones. Isn't this what great players do ? Isn't he the best ever ? Isn't this magic ? How can you stop Messi ? How can u stop magic from happening ? That divine free-kick his 8th of the 2018/19 campaign, his personal best in any season. He has 12 UCL goals, he's also top scorer and assist leader in La Liga with 34 and 13 respectively. On Saturday against Levante in La Liga he came off the bench to clinch the title for Barça. After his promise to the Camp Nou faithfuls initially in the season, it looks as if he will deliver the Champions League too. The Copa Del Rey as well to complete the treble.
Where would Barça be without Messi ? With him they can believe, have no fear and are an unbelievable force.
Messi will spearhead this Barça team on Tuesday when they visit Liverpool at Anfield. Knowing Liverpool need four goals without response to qualify, an away goal from Barça will evidently end the contest.
As a Cule, embrace yourself for more magic, because Messi isn't done yet.
Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi
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