Messi tees up triumph as Barcelona cling to fading title hopes
Lionel Messi managed to get 20 assists for the season in Barcelona's stodgy 1-0 win over True Valladolid on Saturday, even while his team's La Liga obstacle appears almost over.
Messi teed up Arturo Vidal's champion at Jose Zorilla to be the first person to provide 20 assists in Spain's top airline flight since Xavi Hernandez in '09 2009.
Victory for Barca means True Madrid cannot clinch the subject on Mon by beating Granada but only an unbelievable collapse might prevent them positioning their name on the trophy later found in the week.
If indeed they beat Granada, Madrid will win La Liga by prevailing in the home to Villarreal on Thursday, irrespective of Barcelona's results.
Overall, Madrid need simply five tips from their remaining 3 complements to secure their third La Liga name in eight years.
"We are doing things that deserve a lot more than where we are," explained Barca trainer Quique Setien. "To earn La Liga, I have no idea, because our rival can be winning everything."
Yet even while Barca's turbulent domestic plan draws to a close, Messi continues to shine.
His delightful pass for Vidal in the 15th minute, a scoop between two Valladolid defenders, triggered more exceptional milestones.
Together with matching the very best La Liga total for assists simply by one player in the last 11 years, Messi extends his own career-best amount of assists in one league season.
'Not rocket science'
He also turns into only the second player in the 21st century from the five main European leagues going to 20 goals and 20 assists in the same campaign, after Thierry Henry found in 2002-03.
Messi has halted negotiations to increase his current contract, which expires in 2021, perhaps expressing frustration with the performing of the club.
As Barcelona's title task has wilted, Setien's position has come under scrutiny too, despite him only overtaking in January.
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 in to the back three.
Luis Suarez started on the bench but replaced Antoine Griezmann at half-time, the Frenchman enduring one of his quieter displays before needing to go off injured.
"He came off because he previously a trouble," Setien said. "It had been him who asked for the transformation."
Immediately after playing Messi behind Suarez and Griezmann against Villarreal on Sunday, Setien appears to be experimenting, conceivably with an eye on the Champions League's resumption next month.
Or he might be making the very best of a stretched squad that appears to be feeling the consequences of fatigue. Setien just known as five outfield players on the bench.
"We've had a whole lot of games, a lot of wear and a lot of players playing a whole lot of minutes. It's not rocket science," he explained.
"If you are tired, you lose extra balls, make terrible decisions. It's normal."
The system worked well in the first half but Barca's issue of converting possession into chances remained and Valladolid grew in confidence overdue on.
Defeat leaves Valladolid 14th but survival looks all-but secured, with seven things between them and the bottom three.
Griezmann snatched at an early finish within the field before Vidal showed him how it was done.
Messi recovered the ball on the advantage of the region and after getting it back again from Semedo, scooped it to Vidal, who gathered and unleashed pretty much all in one movement to get the far corner.
Valladolid's Kike Perez raced free from Gerard Pique but lost his footing at the key point in time before Messi weaved through but drove wide.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to make two saves on the second fifty percent as Valladolid pushed, the first from an Enes Unal header and the next in injury-time, just after Sandro Ramirez was allowed space in the back post.
Third-placed Atletico Madrid ensured of their place on the Champions League following season with a 1-0 win over Real Betis despite playing over fifty percent an hour with 10 men.
Diego Costa grabbed the sole aim from a Yannick Carrasco free-kick in the 73rd minute after VAR had earlier eliminated two goals.
Atletico full-back again Mario Hermoso have been red-carded in the 57th minute.
Before, Celta Vigo surrendered a valuable point in the relegation battle simply by conceding in the 91st-minute to Osasuna, Jose Arnaiz sealing a 2-1 win.
Defeat means Celta stay several points clear of underneath three but having played a casino game more than those beneath them.
