The fans at Camp Nou have good reason to get so excited when they see Messi warming up to come in as a substitute. Over the last couple of years, when he's come in as a sub, his production has been almost impossible to believe. He is much better as a sub than even he is as a starter. He has to be averaging over a goal a game when he comes on as a sub.
CR7 deserves the Ballon D'Or for 2013. For that one entire calendar year, he was the best. The award is not for who is best when he is on the field, or who is the best of all time. Messi will applaud when CR7 gets the award tonight, because he is classy.
The team and coach deserve huge props for the performance while Messi was out. In two whole months, only one loss is a game that counting, plus another loss in a game that mattered only for the opponent.