You've read this article before. It's becoming a routine, a gradual inevitability that we take for granted because of repetitiveness. 85 minutes gone, Barcelona 1-1 Alavés and the league leaders desperately need a goal to avoid dropping points against a relegation-threatened outfit; do we need to tell you who scored?
The same old story. Sub out the opposition, adjust the time, but the same man does it every time.
Leo Messi is the surest go-to in the mountainous tactics-book of plays within football. Yesterday he claimed Barcelona are a more balanced team after Neymar left. This is only a fraction of the truth. The fact is that as long as Barcelona have Leo Messi in their side, departures are irrelevant. He is the crucial component.
Three steps back, one glance towards goal, into the top corner. Peerless.
Barcelona are now 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid. Yet, at times tonight they looked sluggish. They went behind thanks to a bizarre John Guidetti finish before Luis Suarez grabbed an equalizer.
