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2. Oh My Messi
Cometh the hour and cometh the man! The 27 year old has a knack of rising up to the occasion for big games and he didn’t disappoint tonight.
The little magician just weaved his magic as he scored two diverse but equally beautiful goals. His first and also Barca’s first goal was something which was a typical Lionel Messi goal. The Argentine skipped past three defenders with pace and skill as he rode into the box before thumping it into the Bilbao net. It was arguably best goal of the competition. In some ways, it even bettered Gareth Bale’s wonder goal in last season’s finals.
If his first goal was a goal replete with individual brilliance then his second was a true poacher’s goal. Messi soared into the position beating two defenders to meet Dani Alves’ cross as he scored Barca’s third goal of the night. There are no superlatives and adjectives in English language which can aptly describe the brilliance of this man.
1. Can Enrique do a Guardiola?
Barca’s fortunes have changed dramatically in the space of an year. They finished last season trophyless with some telling questions left unanswered. In came Luis Enrique and now finally Barca are on course for a historic treble. If Enrique manages to win a treble in his debut season at Camp Nou, he will emulate his former teammate and Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola.
Winning a treble is always special and achieving so in one’s debut season is even more special. Guardiola did it with his revolutionary brand of ‘tiki-taka’ football in 2008/09. There are stark differences in both Guardiola and Enqriue’s approaches to football. And if at all Luis Enrique manages to win a treble then it will be ever more significant considering the issues he had to face in his debut season at the club, both on and off the field.
Its two down and one to go for Barca and Enrique, and only a shrewd and compact Juventus side stand in their way to glory, who have clawed their way back into European elite after years in oblivion.
