Messi quashes crisis theory against Milan

At half gas, Messi can still decide games

The Argentine is clearly still not at his best, but even at half gas, he’s still able to decide the important games. Messi scored twice, once from the penalty spot at the half hour stroke and then again in the 83rd minute to seal the game. Sergio Busquets accompanied Messi on the scoreboard by netting one just before half time to make it 2 nil. The “little flea” is able to shift the balance of any game even when he’s running at half gas.

It didn’t take Barca too much to take out the Italian outfit. Practical play in the first half and bursts of good play in the second let the Catalans put one foot in the second round of the Champions League. Although Martino´s Barca is predictable and lacking in rhythm, it is highly effective. AC Milan came to Barcelona to show their faces and not much else as they offered very little resistance as manager Allegri announced a starting lineup which didn’t include Mario Balotelli.

The Catalan club’s movement was not fast, attacks down the wings were omitted, and their attacking play came across as too premeditated, thus giving the Italians time to think. If we add to the fact that Messi still lacks speed, the analysis is quite clear: Tata Martino´s Barca is a winning outfit but it is still by far not the complete package.