Comment: Just a little bit of Lionel Messi is still a lot
A little of Messi is a lot. And against Malaga he showed it again. Without Neymar, injured, the Argentine crack returned to action following his own issue, and was Barcelona's attacking reference poiny again. The truth is that Messi wasn't too strong. But he had enough with one magic action at the start of the second half to give Barcelona a very valuable win.
Barcelona had an awful first half. The worst first half of the season. Apart from Munir's goal in the first minute, the Blaugrana were at the mercy of a very intense Malaga. A Malaga that showed you don't have to use violence to play against Luis Enrique's team. The grave defensive errors of Vermaelen (incomprehensible this player could be a Barcelona starter) and a cock-up by the usually sensible Busquets and Mascherano allowed the Andalusians in to score, making it 1-1 at the break.
Barcelona had to react. The rage of Lucho at half-time had to be historic, because the players came out with a very different attitude. Messi, who had been invisible in the first half, scored a golazo, putting Barcelona ahead. And from there, Barcelona took control. Rakitic for Munir grounded them in midfield and the game took on a new dimension. Without playing well, Barcelona had enough to dominate the second half. Although they finished asking for the final whistle.
Three more points, suffered for, and now we wait to see what Atletico can do at home against Sevilla on Sunday, and Madrid away against Betis. The league of three seems more equal than ever.
