La Liga is not over yet. Real Madrid remain favourites for the title with a game in hand over Barcelona, but Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are doing everything they can to keep the champions in the race.
Barca's trusty trident saw the team through a potentially tricky test versus Villarreal at Camp Nou on Saturday ahead of Madrid's game against Granada and ensured Luis Enrique's men would finish the weekend on top of the table.
Neymar netted his ninth in nine games against the Yellow Submarine (now his favourite opponent in terms of goals) and, after Cedric Bakambu equalised for the plucky visitors, Messi restored the Catalans' lead with a solo effort before the break.
Messi's goal was his 50th of the season and it also brought up 100 for the MSN in 2016-17, which later became 101 after a lovely Luis Suarez strike and 102 following a Panenka penalty from the Argentine attacker.
Barca now have just two fixtures remaining in La Liga - away to Las Palmas next weekend and then at home to Eibar on the last day of the season.
Both of those games should be straightforward enough for a team now concentrating exlusively on the Primera Division following their exit from the Champions League and with the Copa del Rey final against Alaves to come after La Liga has finished.
Villarreal are a team who have frustrated Barca in the past and Fran Escriba's side are still chasing a top-four finish in Liga, so Luis Enrique picked his strongest side with one exception - Lucas Digne at left-back instead of Jordi Alba.
The French defender did well enough, but did give the ball away carelessly in the first half to allow Villarreal to break dangerously. Luckily, he got away with that, but it is common knowledge that Barca are looking for an upgrage in the summer.
There will be no upgrades needed for the MSN, however. Luis Enrique once described his trident as the best in the history of football and all three were on their game again here, with Neymar particularly lively and back on scoring form, Messi decisive once more and Suarez on target too.
So, Barca's bench options may not be good enough this season and La Liga is out of the club's hands due to Madrid's game in hand, but Messi, Suarez and Neymar are making sure the title race goes all the way to the wire in 2016-17 - and that means there is little margin of error for Real.
0 comments:
Post a Comment