Everything but the goal. Lionel Messi’s mesmerising performance in Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Nou Camp to eliminate the Premier League title holders from the Champions League was one to remember, writes Adam Bate…
Pep Guardiola’s hands instinctively covered his face in shock as though he’d seen something he shouldn’t. Luis Enrique settled for pirouetting on the spot. James Milner was just dumped on his backside. Lionel Messi can do that to people.
“We’re in the presence of greatness here,” said Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler. “Scandalously good,” added Gary Neville. Jamie Carragher called it an “absolute privilege”, while Jamie Redknapp thought it was “embarrassing” what he’d just seen.
Much of it was delivered in the hushed tones more commonly associated with theatre than sport. And yet, that’s precisely how Messi can make this game look. Genius at play.
Lionel Messi nutmegged James Milner to the delight of Pep Guardiola
When Andres Iniesta spoke of making City “suffer” most observers were content to put it down to the nuances of translation, but there were times on Wednesday night when there seemed to be a cruel streak to his Argentine team-mate. This was death by nutmeg. A matador using the ball as his red rag.
Only Sergio Aguero, a man who has seen the little magician up close since their adolescence, seemed at peace with what he was witnessing. David Silva raged against the Messi machine and Yaya Toure bemoaned his luck.
Lionel Messi completed 11 dribbles against Manchester City on the night
As for Samir Nasri, his petulant kick out at Neymar was the act of a man frustrated by his own impotence in comparison to the maestro. It was as if the man behind the Blackpool Tower had been taken to Paris to see Mr Eiffel’s work and he’d not taken it well.
Lofted pass
The scoreline seemed merely incidental against this backdrop, but the great man did deign to interject in this regard shortly after the half-hour mark, carrying the ball forwards and delivering a lofted pass into the path of Ivan Rakitic for his team-mate to open – and conclude - the scoring.
“He’s one of the best passers of the ball in the world,” said Carragher at half-time, appearing almost bemused by the fact that players as good as Andrea Pirlo, Xavi and Paul Scholes can construct a career out of something that Messi indulges in as a mere hobby.
Lionel Messi was just too good for Manchester City's big names
Another ludicrous ball to Jordi Alba that seemed to anticipate which foot the player’s marker Jesus Navas had placed his weight on let alone the City man’s position, offered the chance for Barca to double the lead. It wasn’t the first or last chance that the home team spurned.
Messi was as guilty as anyone, Joe Hart seemingly relishing his private battle. As a result of the England No 1’s efforts, by the time City’s players trudged from the pitch they would have been forgiven for feeling a modicum of relief as well as disappointment. A hiding had been dodged.
Barcelona vs R Madrid
March 22, 2015
The statistics were almost as startling as the spectacle. Most passes? Messi. Most chances created? Messi. Most shots? Messi. Most dribbles? Messi, breaking his own 2014/15 knockout stage record of 10 – notched up in the first leg - with 11 of them in front of his adoring supporters.
All that was missing was the goal. Messi has scored 20 of those already in 2015. Manchester City as a team have managed only 21. And so the visitors were spared the final indignation of an ‘equalising’ goal. The rest of us got to enjoy a performance to remember.
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