Barcelona first 35 minutes of the game were pure brilliance
seeing them score four (4) goals, then a late goal by Ivan Rakitic securing
their quarter final slot after a nervy 1-1 draw in the first leg. Barcelona won
the second leg at home with an empathic 5-0 victory (6-1 on aggregate) with
goals from Messi(2x), Alba, Suarez and Rakitic.
Barcelona
started the game with high intensity, quick passing and pressing. Leo Messi was
having one of those nights where he is simply unstoppable, He missed a couple
of changes in the opening ten (10) minutes , he then linked up twice with Jordi
Alba to score (Messi) both goals in just two (2) minutes (13’ , 15’). Jordi
Alba has now assisted seven (7) of Messi’s goals this season, thus making them
the best assist-goal combination in Europe this season.
Thirteen
(13) minutes later, Messi played a sublime pass from the midfield to Jordi
Alba, he puts the ball past Alvarez the Celt goalie making it 3 nil. Jordi Alba
has scored 2 goals so far this season both assisted by Messi. In the 31st
minute, Sisto made a desperate back pass to his goalie which was swiftly
intercepted by Luis Suarez who made it 4 nil and made the tie out of the reach
of Celta.
In the
second half Ernesto Valverde took off Pique, Messi and Iniesta for Vermaelen,
Dembele Arnaiz, resting them for their game against Sociedad at the Anoeta this
weekend. Dembele was full of confidence when he came on, making four (4) successful
dribbles and setting up Ivan Rakitic for the 5th goal of the evening during the
87th minute from a corner kick.
Barcelona
moves on to the quarter final where they have been drawn to play their Catalan
rival Espanyol in a two leg crunching derby.
With
the signing of the Columbian international Yerry Mina by the Catalan side, the
Celta game looks to be the last game of Javier Mascherano for Barcelona as he
looks to complete his move to China during this winter transfer window.
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