Barca cling on to fading title hopes
Lionel Messi made it 20 assists for the growing season in Barcelona's stodgy 1-0 win over True Valladolid on Saturday, even as his team's La Liga task appears almost over.
Messi teed up Arturo Vidal's champion at Jose Zorilla to become the first person to supply 20 assists in Spain's top trip since Xavi Hernandez in '09 2009. Yet even as Barca's turbulent domestic advertising campaign draws to a close, Messi goes on to shine.
"It was an extremely difficult game against a good team who know how to play well and did that today. The hot conditions also complicated issues for us but I'm delighted we won," explained match-champion Vidal. "We realized that we'd need to work very hard and wouldn't be able to maintain our rate throughout, we know you want to improve but we've placed ourselves in the name race that is the important thing."
The win over Valladolid kept Barca in the title competition, although leaders True can extend their lead at the top back again to four points if indeed they beat Granada on Sunday.
If they beat Granada, Madrid will win La Liga by prevailing in the home to Villarreal on Thursday, regardless of Barcelona's results.
Overall, Madrid need just five items from their remaining three complements to secure their third La Liga subject in eight years.
"We are doing things that deserve a lot more than where we are," explained Barca mentor Quique Setien. "To succeed La Liga, I have no idea, because our rival can be winning everything."
Luis Suarez started on the bench but replaced Antoine Griezmann at half-time, Later it had been revealed that Griezmann is defined to miss his side's last two La Liga games after sustaining a thigh injury during the match.
As Barcelona's title obstacle has wilted, Setien's position has come under scrutiny too, But he was bold against Valladolid, deploying a 3-5-2 formation, with Nelson Semedo and Jordi Alba as wing-backs and the versatile Sergi Roberto dropping into the back three.
