Barcelona continue their winning ways as they were able to take another three points against Almeria on Wednesday night. The 4-0 win keeps Barcelona in first place with 74 points and four points ahead of Real Madrid. We also saw a very different Barcelona team than what we saw on Sunday night against Celta de Vigo. The Catalans were able to pass the ball very well, create some nice plays and being able to finish the play.
Luis Suarez was able to score two goals for Barcelona as he got his ninth and tenth goal of the season. Lionel Messi was also among the score sheet as he scored his 33rd goal of the season along with defender Marc Bartra finding the net during a corner kick. There was a different change in the lineups as well as Neymar, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets all got a break heading into Saturday’s match against Sevilla FC. Instead we saw Pedro start over Neymar, both Sergi Roberto and Xavi Hernandez started and Adriano and Marc Bartra saw their names among the starting XI.
Lionel Messi was able to open up the score when he curved a nice ball and as Ray Hudson said, “A magnificent strike in the highest order by Lionel.” Messi got a pass from Bartra in the right side of the field and took on two defenders plus the goalkeeper in front of him as he bend the ball to the left side of the goal and into the net to make it a 1-0 game. Messi, as seen in the highlight below, took his time and was calm during the play and kissed the ball with the perfect touch.
Suarez was able to make it a 2-0 game when he scored a very similar goal to Messi’s. Suarez took on one defender on the right side of the field and was able to bend it similar to was Messi did in the first half and past the goalkeeper to give Barcelona a two goal lead. The goalkeeper stretched himself and tried to get it, but it was quite enough as the ball tipped his fingers and went past him.
In the 73rd minute, Bartra got his first goal of the season as he connected with a corner kick that Xavi crossed inside the box. Bartra was able to bet two defenders and nicely head the ball inside Algeria’s net to make it a 3-0 game.
And just when you thought the game was over Messi, Pedro, and Suarez connected in another nice play that made it a 4-0 game to end it all. Messi found Pedro in the left side of the field and as he was about to go one on one with the goalkeeper he found Suarez on the other side of the box and chipped it over to him only to see Suarez kiss it with his right foot and end the game with a sensational play.
With this win, Barcelona continues to fight on for first place and La liga title and stay four points ahead of Real Madrid. Barcelona will continue to fight on for first place as they face Sevilla FC on Saturday night with Ivan Rakitic facing his former team. Almeria will face Granada on Saturday as well and hope to stay away from the Relegation zone.
The man of the match goes out to Suarez as he was able to net in two goals and get his season goals up to 10.
