Martino's Barcelona is more than just Lionel Messi

Neymar da Silva and Lionel Messi

Easily upset when he was taken off late in games, even when Barcelona were coasting to another victory, his obsession with his notching up the digits on his goal count cost Barcelona dearly – most notably seen in that defeat to Bayern.

Realisation came in the dawn of that defeat, and that, coupled with the arrival of Martino – a man who Messi holds in high regard – has seen the emergence of a Barcelona in transition.

In the El Clasico, Messi himself started on the right, as opposed to his customary position in the center, where practically all of Barcelona’s play would then be directed through him. And as capable as Messi is of orchestrating the performance, Neymar’s seamless transition into the team has not gone unnoticed in Martino’s eyes.

And he didn’t disappoint on the night – a goal and an assist making light work of a Real Madrid side that was reduced to bemoaning the decisions of the referee. Well, any side that plays Sergio Ramos and Pepe is bound to have grievances of its own, so the count remains even on that front.

Ancelotti’s decision to play Ramos in midfield may have stemmed from Rafael Varane considering Pepe to be something of a “mentor” since his arrival in Madrid. Keeping that pair together may have been Ancelotti’s way of making sure no indiscretions on the part of the Portuguese decided the match, perhaps hoping that the role of the senior in the defensive pairing would keep his infamous temper in check.

As it is, the pair never looked to be on the same page, whereas Ramos himself was reduced to running around in circles on the night.

Meanwhile, the defensive priorities of the entire opposition were turned on its head by Martino’s simple switch in the focus of the Barcelona attack – from Messi to Neymar.

Ancelotti’s switch in defense, however, compounded the problems that were already inherent in the Real Madrid line-up well before this match.

And another star was at hand to take advantage – Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has had a quiet time of it since his mega money move from Udinese, but Martino realised early on that he was just as good as his price tag dictated.

His searing pace and control have contributed heavily to a more direct Barcelona this season, especially in the games that Messi missed, while nursing the thigh injury. His delectable chip was a moment of rare class and composure, and ultimately decided the match in Barcelona’s favor.

Barcelona’s high tempo game, inspired by Biesla and perfected by Guardiola, requires superhuman levels of commitment and stamina to sustain itself over years. Biesla himself once declared “if football was played by robots my teams would always win”.

However tempting it may have been to think of Messi as a robot, his frailties were exposed for all to see by a Bayern Munich juggernaut all those months ago.

Rising from that knockout blow the maestro has found that his mates are only too willing to shoulder his enormous burden.

All under the watchful eye of a man who has given this club a reason to expect great things again.