Messi leads Barca to thumping Alaves gain before PSG test
Barcelona may not be able to catch Atletico Madrid but they may fancy their possibilities against Paris Saint-Germain after Lionel Messi scored twice found in a 5-1 thrashing of Alaves on Saturday.
Messi fired found in two sensational long-range attempts and could have had a hat-trick at Camp Nou had a dubious VAR decision in the first half not really ruled Antoine Griezmann offside.
He did tee up another of the night time for the 21-year-good old Francisco Trincao and was instrumental in Junior Firpo adding a good fifth too, a flamboyant scoop freeing Griezmann to send a good move to Firpo at the trunk post.
"Leo is targeted, he's content, he's ruthless. Whenever we play those passes through the lines to him and he finds those gaps, everything is easier," said Ronald Koeman.
Victory means Barca trail Atletico by eight tips again following the leaders temporarily pulled 11 clear thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 make an impression on Granada previously Saturday.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have both played a game more than Atleti, with Zinedine Zidane's area facing Valencia in the home on Sunday.
Atletico's gain was a significant psychological boost on the trunk of slipping up for the 1st time in nine games at home to Celta Vigo before this week.
Their advantage may prove too big to close but Barcelona's Champions League tie against PSG, which had the French side as strong favourites when the draw was manufactured in December, now feels harder to call.
The question is whether a free-flowing Barca attack, packed with talent and orchestrated by Messi, can harm PSG enough to make up for what remains a shaky defence, depleted by injuries and susceptible to the counter-attack.
"We're in very good form," said Koeman. "We maintain creating chances and improving in all respects of our video game. PSG are a great crew but I start to see the tie as very balanced. We go into it confidently, knowing we need to end up being at our best to go through."
With Gerard Pique and the emerging Ronald Araujo both out injured, Frenkie de Jong filled in again in central defence, although the Dutchman has arguably been Barcelona's most improved person this year in the midfield three.
Instead there is a start for Ilaix Kourouma in midfield, the 18-year-old academy product who assisted Trincao's opening goal but whose misplaced pass led to Luis Rioja briefly giving Alaves hope.
After Trincao had swept home, Messi thought he previously managed to get two, pouncing on a rebound after Griezmann missed however the goal was eliminated, even though replays suggested Griezmann was onside.
Messi made amends immediately after, latching onto a good Sergio Busquets move, darting in-discipline and ripping a shot in off the post.
- Late flurry wraps up win -
Rioja capitalised on Ilaix's mistake right before the hour but Barca pulled away with three goals in six a few minutes.
Pedri's pass freed Messi but he failed to circular Fernando Pacheco and instead the ball spilled out for Trincao to score his second.
Messi slammed a stinging strike in to the top corner from 25 yards to make it 4-1 before possibly the target of the night came last, Messi scooping over for Griezmann, who volleyed to the trunk post where Firpo cannot miss.
Atletico had earlier swerved another consecutive slide by squeezing past Granada in Los Carmenes, a victory secured by Angel Correa's fortuitous winner in the second half.
There is a hint of luck in Granada's equaliser also, Yangel Herrera's shot deflecting away Marcos Llorente, who had himself put Atletico in the front only 3 minutes earlier.
"The most important element today was the struggle and the strength of the crew," said Simeone afterwards.
At the full-time whistle, he shook his fists and sprinted down the tunnel, his relief obvious towards the end of a game that could easily have observed extra points dropped for his side.
Luis Suarez had scored in six of the prior seven games but for once the 34-year-old had not been the matchwinner, with Llorente and Correa -- two unsung heroes this season -- instead proving the difference.
Llorente's target was his seventh of the growing season while his lay-off for Correa was his sixth guide.
"As coaches trophies are wonderful because they fill you with excitement and glory," Simeone said of Llorente. "But when you work with a footballer and check out them grow, you are feeling a lot more joy and more enthusiasm to keep undertaking what you're doing."
