Barcelona supremo Lionel Messi has had quite a week. The 22 year old Argentine, dubbed by Diego Maradona as his "successor", is in simply irresistible form, scoring eight goals in his last three outings.
The diminutive genius started his week in blistering fashion, netting a majestic hattrick in front of a privileged Camp Nou crowd in Barca's 3-0 victory over high-flying Valencia. Messi took all three of his goals with typical class, ghosting past confounded Los Che defenders and leaving the home fans breathless.
Messi's mid-week exploits saw him lead the Catalan side's charge in Europe. The European Champions, bidding to become the first side in history to retain the trophy, eased past helpless German side Stuttgart. The young Argentine played a massive part in Barca's victory, scoring two and creating another.
Messi's first came from nothing. He picked up the ball just beyond the halfway line before weaving into a throng of Stuttgart defenders and striking into the top corner, leaving former Arsenal 'keeper Jens Lehmann helpless.With the German side's defence closing in on him, it had seemed impossible that the Argentine could find the back of the net - write off Messi at your peril.
"Write off Messi at your peril"
On 22 minutes it was Messi's turn to become provider. The 22 year old dinked a delightful, defence-splitting ball wide to Toure, who consummately squared for the on-rushing Pedro to tap in a wonderfully worked team goal.
Messi scored Barca's third on the hour mark, settling the tie at 4-1 on aggregate. Creative industry from the attacking Dani Alves sent Pedro surging down the right hand flank and he pulled the ball back to Alves, whose smart flick found Messi, leaving the European player of the year to guide the ball into the near corner, wrong footing Lehmann in the Stuttgart goal.
Barca's fourth came as Stuttgart were looking stretched. A simple counter-attack saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic slide 19 year old prodigy Bojan Krkic in for his first touch of the night, slotting past Lehmann's valiant outstretched arm to seal a fantastic European night for Barcelona.
Back on home soil, Messi was at it again. This time it was Real Zaragoaza's Romareda crowd who were treated to another masterclass as Messi completed his second domestic hattrick in the space of seven days. In a role reversal from mid-week, it was Pedro who supplied Messi with the opening goal after just 5 minutes. The Spanish winger fired in a left footed cross for Messi to deftly nod home, demonstrating the versatility of the current Ballon D'or holder who scores goals with both his feet and his head.
"Messi scores goals with both his feet and his head"
In the 66th minute, Messi showed effortless, all-round quality to score his and Barca's second. Back-tracking, the Argentine wizard wrested possession in midfield before skipping past one then running at the hapless Matteo Contini, turning the defender inside out before rifling a low strike into the far corner. He simply made it look easy.
Barca's third showed how easy it is for creative players like Andres Iniesta to get their assist bonus with Messi in their line-up. The Spanish playmaker picked up the ball in midfield before distributing it to Messi outside the area, Messi took one touch to push the ball outside his left foot before curling it into the near corner to complete his hattrick.
Zaragoza then thereatened an unlikely comeback, with two quick fire goals from hard-working striker Adrian Colunga in the 85th and 89th minute. The home side's uprising was quashed in stoppage time however, as Messi once more tormented centre back Contini whose only option was to bring the Argentine maestro down for a penalty. Selflessly, Messi handed the responsibility of taking the spot-kick to striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"Contini's only option was to bring the
Argentine maestro down for a penalty"
The recent form of the Swedish striker has been an interesting sub-plot in Barca's season. The Catalan giants' win at La Romareda typified the second most expensive player in the world's 2010 so far as he missed a number of guilt-edged chances, looking bereft of confidence. And when he plundered in the penalty won by the masterful Messi, the big striker's frustration was clear for all to see. Despite the difference in their physical stature, Ibrahimovic knows that he has been dwarfed by the irrepresible Messi this season, and will hope his twelve yard strike will be the catalyst that re-ignites his goalscoring form.
As for Messi, there are no words. Superlatives simply don't do him justice.
Monday 22 March 2010
Friday 19 March 2010
Ferguson will be wary of Bayern Munich threat
Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will have been pleased by this morning's UEFA Champions League quarter and semi-final draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
The English champions avoided current holders and favourites Barcelona in both the quarter and semi-final stage, drawing Bayern Munich in a repeat of the thrilling 1998/1999 final. Should United progress against the German side they would face the winner of the all-French quarter final between Bordeaux and Lyon, in the semi-final.
On paper, United have drawn the most favourable opponents, and would now be considered likely to reach the showpiece final in Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium. But Bayern are not a side to be underestimated.
After an inconsistent start to this year's Bundesliga campaign, manager Louis van Gaal has got his Bayern side firing. The Germans currently sit atop the league, and overcame Fiorentina to progress to the quarter-final stage. During the course of this tie, Bayern showed incredible resolve, alongside a dangerous attacking threat. Arjen Robben's sensational strike handed van Gaal's side a win on the away goal ruling and Bayern will be buoyed by their record against United. In seven meetings between the two, the English have only a solitary win (that memorable 1999 final)
Memories of that incredible 1999 final will undoubtedly dominate the media focus approaching the fixture, and rightly so.
It is not that the match, itself, was particularly entertaining. It is simply the sheer, unbridled nature of the reversal that makes this match unique. Bayern twice struck the woodwork when one goal up, and would surely have won the trophy had either effort found the goal. But it was not to be, and the late goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer have gone down in Manchester United and Champions League folklore.
But the Bayern fans will remember that night too. The Germans will be keen to turn United over and start the healing process from that fateful night in Barcelona in 1999. Whilst United will be strong favourites to win the tie, and, indeed, progress to the final, Bayern will be as spurred on as United by events from the final 11 years ago.
The English champions avoided current holders and favourites Barcelona in both the quarter and semi-final stage, drawing Bayern Munich in a repeat of the thrilling 1998/1999 final. Should United progress against the German side they would face the winner of the all-French quarter final between Bordeaux and Lyon, in the semi-final.
On paper, United have drawn the most favourable opponents, and would now be considered likely to reach the showpiece final in Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium. But Bayern are not a side to be underestimated.
After an inconsistent start to this year's Bundesliga campaign, manager Louis van Gaal has got his Bayern side firing. The Germans currently sit atop the league, and overcame Fiorentina to progress to the quarter-final stage. During the course of this tie, Bayern showed incredible resolve, alongside a dangerous attacking threat. Arjen Robben's sensational strike handed van Gaal's side a win on the away goal ruling and Bayern will be buoyed by their record against United. In seven meetings between the two, the English have only a solitary win (that memorable 1999 final)
Memories of that incredible 1999 final will undoubtedly dominate the media focus approaching the fixture, and rightly so.
It is not that the match, itself, was particularly entertaining. It is simply the sheer, unbridled nature of the reversal that makes this match unique. Bayern twice struck the woodwork when one goal up, and would surely have won the trophy had either effort found the goal. But it was not to be, and the late goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer have gone down in Manchester United and Champions League folklore.
But the Bayern fans will remember that night too. The Germans will be keen to turn United over and start the healing process from that fateful night in Barcelona in 1999. Whilst United will be strong favourites to win the tie, and, indeed, progress to the final, Bayern will be as spurred on as United by events from the final 11 years ago.
Thursday 18 March 2010
Europa League bursts into life
The UEFA Europa League tonight stepped out of the colossal shadow cast upon it by European football's premier competition, The Champions League.
And no performance exemplified this more than Fulham's sensational win over Italian giants Juventus. Taking a 3-1 deficit into the second leg, Dickson Etuhu's away goal was the only crumb of comfort for Roy Hodgson's side. But under the watchful eye of Fabio Capello, Bobby Zamora turned in a bravura performance. The English striker lifted his team mates around him and restored parity on the night on 9 minutes following David Trezeguet's early opener for the Bianconeri.
Their task, however, was still a daunting one.
Fulham passed their test of character with flying colours. And it was the colour red that proved significant with just 27 minutes on the clock. Italian national Captain Fabio Cannavaro was shown his marching orders for a dubious professional foul. The Italian centre half's dismissal breathed fresh impetus into The Cottagers, and it was no surprise when Zoltan Gera fired in goals either side of half time to bring the tie back even at 4-4.
Then followed a somewhat attritional period, no doubt exacerbated by the knowledge that the next goal in the tie could likely be a decider. This proved to be the case in the 83rd minute when Clint Dempsey scored an exquisite chip worthy of winning any tie. The American striker's finish will not have escaped the notice of England supremo Capello, with his side due to face USA in this summer's World Cup. Juventus 'keeper Antonio Chimenti was a mere spectator as Dempsey's deft effort sent the West London faithful into raptures and Fulham into the quarter final of the Europa League.
For Liverpool, the only other English side remaining in the competition, the night proved to be somewhat more straight forward. Following a lacklustre first leg performance that saw Rafael Benítez's side lose by a solitary goal in France, Liverpool's ailing season demanded an improved performance. Anfield's famous Kop End once again served as inspiration for the Merseyside club, and it was their favourite son and chief talisman Steven Gerrard who fired them into the lead from the penalty spot within 10 minutes.
A Liverpool victory was secured by a Fernando Torres masterclass. The Spaniard simply oozed quality, taking his 50th minute goal with impeccable ease. The former Atletico Madrid striker's strike left the tie poised at 2-1, and a tense atmosphere developed with Lille needing just a crucial away goal to win the tie. Any concerns were ended in the final minute of normal time when Torres settled the tie after Lille 'keeper Landreau parried a Steven Gerrard effort.
Progression to the quarter final was a welcome distraction for beleaguered reds manager Benítez, whose latest mini-crisis was sparked when out of favour winger Albert Riera criticised the Liverpool bosses' methods. The Anfield side's manager can look forward to the Europa League draw tomorrow morning knowing that his former side Valencia are potential opponents.
Valencia triumphed over Werder Bremen in an enthralling 4-4 (agg. 5-5) draw at Bremen's Weserstadion, featuring a marvellous hattrick from Spanish hitman David Villa. Elsewhere, Hamburg secured a nailbiting victory away at Anderlecht, losing on the night 4-3 but winning 6-5 on aggregate, Wolfsburg needed extra time to overcome Russian champions Rubin Kazan, whilst there were wins for Standard Liege, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, who recorded an impressive 2-1 win at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome.
The line-up of sides who have progressed to the quarter and semi final draw, to be held in Nyon at 11 o' clock on Friday morning, is as follows:
Atletico Madrid
Benfica
Fulham
Hamburg
Liverpool
Standard Liege
Valencia
Wolfsburg
And no performance exemplified this more than Fulham's sensational win over Italian giants Juventus. Taking a 3-1 deficit into the second leg, Dickson Etuhu's away goal was the only crumb of comfort for Roy Hodgson's side. But under the watchful eye of Fabio Capello, Bobby Zamora turned in a bravura performance. The English striker lifted his team mates around him and restored parity on the night on 9 minutes following David Trezeguet's early opener for the Bianconeri.
Their task, however, was still a daunting one.
Fulham passed their test of character with flying colours. And it was the colour red that proved significant with just 27 minutes on the clock. Italian national Captain Fabio Cannavaro was shown his marching orders for a dubious professional foul. The Italian centre half's dismissal breathed fresh impetus into The Cottagers, and it was no surprise when Zoltan Gera fired in goals either side of half time to bring the tie back even at 4-4.
Then followed a somewhat attritional period, no doubt exacerbated by the knowledge that the next goal in the tie could likely be a decider. This proved to be the case in the 83rd minute when Clint Dempsey scored an exquisite chip worthy of winning any tie. The American striker's finish will not have escaped the notice of England supremo Capello, with his side due to face USA in this summer's World Cup. Juventus 'keeper Antonio Chimenti was a mere spectator as Dempsey's deft effort sent the West London faithful into raptures and Fulham into the quarter final of the Europa League.
For Liverpool, the only other English side remaining in the competition, the night proved to be somewhat more straight forward. Following a lacklustre first leg performance that saw Rafael Benítez's side lose by a solitary goal in France, Liverpool's ailing season demanded an improved performance. Anfield's famous Kop End once again served as inspiration for the Merseyside club, and it was their favourite son and chief talisman Steven Gerrard who fired them into the lead from the penalty spot within 10 minutes.
A Liverpool victory was secured by a Fernando Torres masterclass. The Spaniard simply oozed quality, taking his 50th minute goal with impeccable ease. The former Atletico Madrid striker's strike left the tie poised at 2-1, and a tense atmosphere developed with Lille needing just a crucial away goal to win the tie. Any concerns were ended in the final minute of normal time when Torres settled the tie after Lille 'keeper Landreau parried a Steven Gerrard effort.
Progression to the quarter final was a welcome distraction for beleaguered reds manager Benítez, whose latest mini-crisis was sparked when out of favour winger Albert Riera criticised the Liverpool bosses' methods. The Anfield side's manager can look forward to the Europa League draw tomorrow morning knowing that his former side Valencia are potential opponents.
Valencia triumphed over Werder Bremen in an enthralling 4-4 (agg. 5-5) draw at Bremen's Weserstadion, featuring a marvellous hattrick from Spanish hitman David Villa. Elsewhere, Hamburg secured a nailbiting victory away at Anderlecht, losing on the night 4-3 but winning 6-5 on aggregate, Wolfsburg needed extra time to overcome Russian champions Rubin Kazan, whilst there were wins for Standard Liege, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, who recorded an impressive 2-1 win at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome.
The line-up of sides who have progressed to the quarter and semi final draw, to be held in Nyon at 11 o' clock on Friday morning, is as follows:
Atletico Madrid
Benfica
Fulham
Hamburg
Liverpool
Standard Liege
Valencia
Wolfsburg
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