ZCZC
BSP-07
FBL-ESP-LIGA-BARCELONA
Relief for Barca as Messi ensures Setien enjoys winning start
MADRID, Jan 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Quique Setien may want a different
Barcelona but he needed the same old Lionel Messi on Sunday as the
Argentinian gave his new coach a winning start by scoring in a 1-0 victory
over Granada.
Messi’s strike in the 76th minute decided a cagey contest at the Camp Nou
and prevented the much-anticipated launch of Setien’s new era becoming
something of a damp squib.
Victory also sends Barca back to the top of La Liga on goal difference,
after Real Madrid had briefly claimed first place following their win over
Sevilla on Saturday.
“I have seen many things from the team today that I want to see,” said
Setien. “But I already saw some of them against Atletico (last weekend)
because Barca has been doing great things for many years.”
It would have been different if Granada’s Yan Eteki hadn’t struck the post
with just over 20 minutes left or their central defender German Sanchez not
been sent off for a needless second yellow card soon after.
The extra man was the boost Barca needed and Messi duly poked home his
17th goal in 21 games this season following good work by Arturo Vidal,
Antoine Griezmann and the 20-year-old Riqui Puig.
All three had reasons to impress, particularly Puig, whose inclusion on
the bench was an early indication of Setien’s belief in youth. Puig’s
contribution after coming on should mean more opportunities are to come.
Setien said last week that if he could make one guarantee, it was that
Barcelona would play good football while he is in charge and although few
could argue this was a transformative display following the sacking of
Ernesto Valverde, there were certainly some encouraging signs.
The passing was faster, the pressing higher and Messi spent most of the
match playing down the middle, with Griezmann on the left and Ansu Fati,
another youngster, on the right.
– Slick Barca dominate –
Setien claimed on Saturday he would never go home happy after winning and
playing badly but a 1-0 victory gets his tenure off to a positive start and,
with Real Madrid showing no sign of stuttering, he could hardly afford
anything less.
His team had 83 per cent possession in the first half but chances were not
as clear-cut and, as it was under Valverde, nearly everything went through
Messi.
His driving run teed up Fati, who shot over, and then a cutting reverse
pass set Alba away but Fati failed to finish at the back post.
Messi won the ball back on the ground and then nipped past two players. He
flashed wide at the end of a fluid team move and missed from two free-kicks.
Barca were slick, evidently trying to pass faster and press with more
aggression. Messi and Sergio Busquets chased and Griezmann did too, at one
point earning the approval of the home fans after sprinting to provide cover
at right-back.
Vidal has always harried and when he won the ball back early in the second
half, Barca had a four against two. But Messi’s pass was heavy and the angle
for Vidal became too acute.
The game drifted and tension grew but two moments proved crucial. First
Eteki’s shot was kept out only by the post as he drove hard past the right
hand of Ter Stegen.
Then, less than five minutes later, Granada were reduced to 10 men after
German picked up a second yellow card for a late hack on Messi. It left
Granada needing to survive 21 minutes and they only made it through eight.
Puig, on for Ivan Rakitic, recovered possession in the corner before Messi
picked up the ball centrally. In a flash, he played in Griezmann, who found
Vidal, whose swivelled a flick back into the path of Messi and he poked a
finish into the corner.
Setien threw both arms into the air and looked to the sky, with joy and
also relief.
Earlier, two challengers for the top four stumbled as Valencia were
thrashed 4-1 away at Real Mallorca and Real Sociedad beaten 3-0 by Real
Betis.
After Sevilla and Atletico Madrid both lost on Saturday, Real Madrid and
Barcelona are now eight points clear of the chasing pack, in what looks
increasingly like a two-horse race.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1110HRS