Man of the Match thread
- Thread starter Barcaman
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CatalinR10
Senior Member
Iniesta
Busquets
Xavi
Busquets
Xavi
AntiMadridista
New member
Masch
Busquets
Xavi
Busquets
Xavi
abual3bed1
New member
Don Andres
Cesc
Villa
Cesc
Villa
Antimadridista1
New member
Iniesta
Mascherano
Pinto
Mascherano
Pinto
BerkeleyBernie
Senior Member
Most entertaining game I recall watching this season, due to good performances all around. Don't let the fact it was a "meaningless" game fool you (though both teams were probably more foul-averse than usual, giving nothing was on the line)- the goals were brilliant and not due to defensive lapses on Malaga's part, and Malaga's offense got them many solid opportunities to keep the score close. It was far from the drubbing the score suggests. Moments of individual brilliance, including all the goals, and great tiki-taka. Montoya's wonder strike, Cesc's dribble-goal, Iniesta's curler, Busquets showboat 1-touch. But none of them alone was decisive in the overall performance or outcome of the game.
Two performances stand out above the rest:
1. MOTM Pedro
2. Pinto
3. Alba
Pedro was involved in creating nearly EVERY Barça opportunity in the game, including his brilliant run to set up the first goal. All anyone focuses on is his miss of Cesc's scoop pass in the second half, but he was a constant threat, pulled the Malaga defenders around, and laid out multiple opportunities for his teammates to score. Completely underrated by everyone in this thread.
Pinto singlehandedly kept the Malaga score to one goal with several excellent saves.
Defensively, both Alba and Mascherano worked the hardest to shut down the Malaga offense, with Joaquin/Isco being the main threat down Barça's left flank. A slight nod to Alba, but both did well.
Other important performances: Xavi for a solid Xavi-esque outing orchestrating the midfield; Iniesta for his key pass to Pedro to set up the first goal, in addition to his own strike.
Can't give Busquets the nod this game. His showboat tiki-taka was entertaining in the first half, but led to multiple dispossessions in the second. He's always somewhat cavalier (with good reason to have that confidence), but just too sloppy in the second half to warrant a rating.
Villa had many great 1-2 pass ideas (including his great little through ball that Cesc blasted into a defenders head instead of cutting back to the unmarked Villa), but just not sharp enough this day to pull most of them off.
Two performances stand out above the rest:
1. MOTM Pedro
2. Pinto
3. Alba
Pedro was involved in creating nearly EVERY Barça opportunity in the game, including his brilliant run to set up the first goal. All anyone focuses on is his miss of Cesc's scoop pass in the second half, but he was a constant threat, pulled the Malaga defenders around, and laid out multiple opportunities for his teammates to score. Completely underrated by everyone in this thread.
Pinto singlehandedly kept the Malaga score to one goal with several excellent saves.
Defensively, both Alba and Mascherano worked the hardest to shut down the Malaga offense, with Joaquin/Isco being the main threat down Barça's left flank. A slight nod to Alba, but both did well.
Other important performances: Xavi for a solid Xavi-esque outing orchestrating the midfield; Iniesta for his key pass to Pedro to set up the first goal, in addition to his own strike.
Can't give Busquets the nod this game. His showboat tiki-taka was entertaining in the first half, but led to multiple dispossessions in the second. He's always somewhat cavalier (with good reason to have that confidence), but just too sloppy in the second half to warrant a rating.
Villa had many great 1-2 pass ideas (including his great little through ball that Cesc blasted into a defenders head instead of cutting back to the unmarked Villa), but just not sharp enough this day to pull most of them off.
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