Player of Week 18: Lionel Messi

If, as has been reported in Spain, Lionel Messi has been unhappy with the management of Luis Enrique, he had a funny way of showing it on Sunday night as he spurred La Blaugrana to their best performance of the season, Atletico Madrid downed in convincing fashion.

Messi was, inevitably, central to it. He created two goals and scored one himself, from a right-wing position that previously would have been described as unusual but has been a more regular station in recent weeks. It was Barca’s most dynamic display in quite some time and Messi, cutting inside and running at the Atletico defence, was the primary reason for it, reaching a season-total of 395 EuroFantasyLeague points in the process.

Many of the runs made by Messi were ultimately unselfish, too, as they didn’t end in a shot for him but a pass to a teammate. It was a team-minded showing from the Argentine after a week in which, if the rumours are to be believed, he could have been accused of putting his own wants ahead of all other priorities. Messi has denied all the accusations and passionately at that.

Ironically, the best example of Messi’s selflessness can be found in the most counter-productive manner, as he gave away a penalty that let Atletico back into the tie. Whether or not he actually tripped Jesus Gamez – and the running battle fought by the pair was a regular feature of the contest – rarely has Messi been found in his own penalty area. After dangling a leg for Gamez to trip over, we saw why that has been the case.

Messi vs. Gamez also saw a forearm smash from Messi on Gamez, a handball by Messi as he darted away from his marker and created Suarez’s goal, and more than one foul on Messi by Gamez. Gamez was eventually hauled off after 82 minutes in which he was, surprisingly, roughed up by La Pulga and, less surprisingly, tormented by his skill. While it’s not a good idea to second-guess Diego Simeone, we’re unlikely to see Gamez on the left of the defence again any time soon.

In defence of Gamez, he won’t always find Messi as the opposing winger, and probably not Messi in that mood either. The question now is can Messi keep up that intensity – can Barca, for that matter – when the opponent isn’t a title rival and the team, the club and Messi himself haven’t been impugned all week in the Press.

The visit of the champions after seven days of controversial headlines is an easy game to get up for. It’s an altogether different matter when forced to unpick the massed defence of a team that has no ambition greater than to keep the score down. It may be harder to break through those lines – the defence deeper, the pressing less furious – but the points awarded for a win don’t change.

It was though a bruising encounter – bloody for Neymar. It came after a painful week, one of upheaval and crisis. It ended with triumph, a renewed sense of ambition and togetherness, Messi the catalyst.

Is Messi the spark in your fantasy football team? Join now at EuroFantasyLeague.com

La Liga - Club News