Lionel Messi - v7

[JohnN]

Bad mistake at the end but all went good eventually.
Too good today with great shots and combos. If he can keep it up we might keep the top 3 spot.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

That is pre-Corona Messi

Thus. Looked like Messi we know.

 

[JamDav1982]

More enjoyable watching Messi connect with FDJ, Griezmann, Pedri and Dembele than what was served up last season.

 

[vuji_31]

Great game.

Can't wait for Fati to be back.

Fati-Messi-Dembele

Make it happen

 

[JohnN]

We have to acknowledge though that others need to be able to play a pass or two for Messi to operate. Pedri is a prime example. This does not mean he hasn't been off form until some matches ago, but the team needs to step up to, as they did today.

 

[te amo barca]

Which one? Can you post it?

I just posted this (manually collected) on Dembele thread a couple of days ago:

Forward players of Barca in 20/21 so far. Ratio of npGoal/npXGoals (shows conversion rate) in all competitions in descending order [Source]:


1. Dembele: npG=4, npXG=2.1, conversion ratio= 1.90

2. Fati: npG=5, npXG=2.7, conversion ratio= 1.85

3. Braithwate:npG=5, npXG=5.1, conversion ratio= 0.98

4. Coutinho: npG=3, npXG=4.3, conversion ratio= 0.72

5. Griezman: npG=5, npXG=7.3, conversion ratio= 0.68

6. Messi: npG=5, npXG=9.4, conversion ratio= 0.53

Shots per 90 vs Expected Goals per 90 in La Liga so far this season

https://i.redd.it/e07a10faqp961.jpg

 

[JamDav1982]

We have to acknowledge though that others need to be able to play a pass or two for Messi to operate. Pedri is a prime example. This does not mean he hasn't been off form until some matches ago, but the team needs to step up to, as they did today.

Messi stepped up his game as well and has been getting chances.

Pedri could easily have assists in last 4 games to Messi if finished better.

 

[JohnN]

Dont want to take anything away from his performance , but even today he could have easily scored 2 more.

No shit.. he hit the post twice. Those were great shots

 

[JohnN]

Im not talking about that shot where he hit the post outside the pen box. Talking about that 1 on 1 he pretty much had in the 1st half from that Griezmann pass.

That was a really bad miss. But the only bad effort.
His shots today had power and precision. It's weird really..

 

[te amo barca]

We have to acknowledge though that others need to be able to play a pass or two for Messi to operate. Pedri is a prime example. This does not mean he hasn't been off form until some matches ago, but the team needs to step up to, as they did today.

Messi got fed good passes from Pedri, Griezmann and Dembele in this game. This season he is being fed very well, just poor finishing.

 

[sikkboy]

Silly wee blot at the end there but otherwise looked more relaxed generally, not trying to force shots as much. Athletic helped of course with a slightly higher line, and of course their lines weren't tight so Barca were frequently able to get in between. More movement from Messi of course, and better creation from team mates = higher quality chances.

 

[JamDav1982]

Facing a high line is something Barca have been poor at in recent seasons.

With Dembele, Messi, Pedri, FDJ getting forward more etc it is a plus Barca can break those line now.

Sick of seeing Messi/Suarez against it.

 

[Catta]

Maybe his best game this season. Was running, combining well with all the other players, and his finishing looks like its back to normal.

Lets hope this is a turning point for him this season.

 

[KingLeo10]

He can still get to 30-35ish goals this season, which would be a very decent return IMO for a lad who's going to be 34 and has already scored like 700+ goals.

 

[serghei]

Messi's problems were attitude early in the season, and poor finishing. He has improved both lately and if this continues, he will get chances, create chances, and score goals, because the team, while it's rebuilding, is good, also looking at the context of a La Liga declining in quality.