FC Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol: Hits and Flops | LaLiga 2018-19

#1 Hit: Lionel Messi

The best in the world bar none: Peter Drury on Lionel Messi

We are not worthy to watch Messi. Even in the worst of his performances, his intelligence and game outshine every other man on the pitch. Messi only passed at 74% success yesterday, not his best by any means and still, he manages to pull the rabbit out of the hat. He completed 10/12 dribbles that he attempted, not dispossessed even once by the opposition. That was something like the vintage Messi.

Now, look at Messi's first goal. With the ball right on top of the line of the box, it is virtually impossible to score. It was too close to lift the ball over the ball and have it dip into the net. The only other option was to go for power and that has to be done where the keeper is positioned and not over the ball. What did Messi do? He chipped the ball with absolutely no pace on it. Poor Victor Sanchez broke off the wall to head the ball away, that is what was done. But what did he know? The pace of the ball just caught him off guard and instead of clearing it, he headed it into the net.

The second goal from Messi is not easy by any means. He made the run into the box perfectly in time for the cutback. He had to wrap his foot around the ball and around the defender's foot. With that position and connection with the ball, he could only aim for one position on the net, diagonally to the bottom left, and he found it. Everything happens so easily for him.

Let's hope he continues on his good form for the rest of the season.