Taking a page out of Mourinho’s coaching diary, Pep Guardiola began the first half of FC Barcelona’s home stand against Osasuna by resting Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pedro, and Pique, and leaving Villa, Alves, and Valdes to take care of business.
A lone Villa goal in the first half, confirmed the coach’s prescient decision.
Half-way through the second half, Pep brought Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi in and it seemed less a game-situation need than a play for Messi’s dual objectives of the Pichichi and his 50th goal of the year—a record. Sure enough, a through pass from Alves saw the diminutive Argentine superstar scoring a simple goal to make history and extend his league leading scoring run.
Barcelona did not look as sharp as Real did earlier in the day and though their victory was deserved it was tenuous until the three FIFA best-players-of-the-year candidates came in en masse to settle things. Within seconds of their entrance the team moved up a gear and the questions became when the next goal would come and would it be Messi’s to score. The Camp Nou crowd got their wish and Pep gave his team and fans the send off they wanted after their Copa del Rey defeat.
In a year that has seen Spain win the World Cup, and soccer’s elite performers, the sport's global media glare, and the world’s fans, all focused on La Liga clubs’ domestic and regional exploits, it is heartening to see the Real vs. Barca, and Pep vs. Mourinho, and Messi vs. Ronaldo plots play out at such a high level.
And to think there could still be more and better to come. It would be hard to find another year in world soccer to compare with what we have been witnessing since last summer.
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