‘Messi saves Barcelona’s blushes’ has not been an uncommon headline in the newspapers and the media. Luis Enrique himself admitted to the disease of Messidependencia for the Catalans.
"It would be naive to think there's not some dependence on the best player in the world," Luis Enrique explained on Tuesday afternoon as he spoke to the media ahead of the Catalan’s clash with Sporting Gijon.
The Catalans have been saved by the little Argentinian six times in the current season. With the winner over Atletico, Messi has now scored 20 goals in 21 La Liga games with an incredible ratio of 0.95, a feat that Lionel Messi has managed to pull off for nine consecutive seasons.
Barcelona’s No. 10 needs only two goals this season at the Camp Nou to reach ten league goals at home.
He has managed to reach double figures at home for eight seasons now. Let’s look at the six games where Messi has been the difference.
#1 Valencia 2-3 Barcelona at Mestalla
Barcelona were a minute away from dropping points for the 4th time this season only to be saved by a Lionel Messi penalty in the 94th minute of the crucial La Liga fixture. The match also witnessed an injury to Andres Iniesta, which would eventually rule the midfielder out for the next couple of months.
Messi earlier in the game opened the scoring for the Catalans only for Barcelona’s player on loan at Valencia Munir El-Haddadi equalised for Los Che. Brazilian attacker Rodrigo put Los Che in front with a clinical finish past Barcelona’s custodian ter Stegen.
The Argentinian placed the penalty superbly in the dying moments of the game to win it for the Catalans
#2 Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Trailing 1-0 against an inspired Sevilla side away from home, Barcelona needed something special to take something out of the game. Messi’s goal just before half time was the inspiration that was much needed for the Catalans.
The match was always going to be tough one for Barcelona, against a tactical and defensive coach like Jorge Sampaoli.
Messi triggered the comeback with a goal and then assisted Luis Suarez, who completed the comeback with a beautiful second half goal to help Barcelona with yet another three crucial points. Luis Enrique and his Barcelona was once again saved the Argentine magician.
#3 Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona at San Sebastian
San Sebastian has been nightmare ground for the Catalans. Barcelona have lost their previous four games at La Real’s home and a fifth straight loss at San Sebastian would have dented the Catalans’ hope of winning La Liga.
Luis Enrique has never won a match against La Real at the San Sebastian, and it looked like he would not win another when ex-Arsenal striker Carlos Vela put the Basque side ahead. Messi equalised in the 55th minute to level the score at one a piece.
The Argentine’s valiant effort meant that the Catalans would go back to Camp Nou with a point. Messi was once again the difference between dropping three points and picking a crucial point for the Catalans and breaking their San Sebastian jinx.
#4 Villarreal 1-1 Barcelona at El Madrigal
Barcelona seemed to be done and dusted by a Sansone goal in the 49th minute of the crucial fixture, but Messi had other plans.
Luis Suarez and Neymar wasted plenty of good chances right throughout the game leaving it to Lionel Messi to equalise things right at the death of the match.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner took advantage of the reckless tackle by the defensive midfielder Bruno Soriano with a brilliantly taken free-kick right into the top right corner of Sergio Asenjo’s goal.
#5 Barcelona 2-1 Leganes at Camp Nou
Barcelona scored a goal as early as the 3rd minute in this crucial battle against Deportivo Leganes. Leganes fought back to level things with very less time left for Barcelona to counter.
A draw here at Camp Nou would put an end to Barcelona’s title hopes.
Cometh the hour, Cometh the man, Barcelona’s 90th-minute hero once again was Lionel Messi. Messi placed the penalty on the right corner of the Leganes’ keeper to kill the game and leave the Leganes team heartbroken.
#6 Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona at Vicente Calderon
Luis Enrique at the pre-match conference mentioned the impact this game would have on the Catalan side’s title hopes. Enrique changed to a three-man defence against Atletico with four midfielders and the attacking trident up front.
Rafinha opened the scoring for the Catalans after Atletico’s defence failed to clear the ball. Godin, as he has done several other times, headed the ball into Ter Stegen’s net to equalise the match with 20 minutes to go.
Up until that point, Messi had not had any impactful touch on the pitch. The stage was set for another Barcelona comeback and who better to do it than Lionel Messi.
Messi latched onto a poor clearance from the Atletico defender to score the rebound past the Atletico’s custodian Jan Oblak. The Argentinian scored another goal right at the death of the match.
