Lionel Messi vs Alaves: 5 signs that indicate Leo could be gearing up for another record breaking season

Lionel Messi had a summer to forget. Argentina crashed out of the World Cup in the round of 16, with Messi scoring only 1 goal in 4 games. The disappointment and heartbreak seemed to have burdened him as he left the field after the defeat at the hands of eventual champions France. There was a lot of criticism from the skeptics. Rival fans had a field day. There were also questions whether the greatest player in the world could get out of the shadows of disappointment in the new season.

Which made things very interesting when Barcelona faced Deportivo Alaves at the Nou Camp in their opening fixture of the new La Liga Season. Valverde started with Dembele and Suarez alongside Messi in the attack and decided to go a little conservative in the midfield with Busquets, Sergio Roberto and Ivan Rakitic. However, Alaves did well to keep the scores 0-0 at half-time, though much of the blame could also be put on the chances missed by Suarez and Dembele. In the second half though, Valverde brought on Coutinho and moved Sergio Roberto to right back and things began to fall into place. Messi took matters into his own hands when he scored from a delightful free kick in the 64th minute. Coutinho doubled the lead in the 83rd minute and Messi finally put the game to bed with his second of the night in the 2nd minute of injury time. Barcelona had 25 shots in the game, with 9 of them on target. They enjoyed 79% possession, attempting 876 passes with 89% accuracy.

Barcelona won the game comfortably with a 3-0 scoreline, but this game highlighted 5 signs that indicate that Lionel Messi could be gearing up for another formidable season ahead

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#5 Breaking (and Making) Records

When Messi scored the first goal of the game from a low freekick, he registered the 6000th Barcelona goal in La Liga. Incidentally, the 5000th Barcelona goal in La Liga was also scored by Lionel Messi, back in 2009. And by opening his account in the 2018/19 season, Messi became the first player in the 21st century to score in 15 successive seasons. Messi has scored 385 La Liga goals already and he shows no signs of stopping now. By registering two new records in the first game of the new season, Messi has made his intentions clear – he plans to attain greater heights this season.

#4 Messi the creator

Messi attempted 73 passes in the game, with 81% accuracy. He put in one cross and had 5 key passes to his name. Unfortunately for him, his teammates were very sloppy in front of goal and missed chances in tandem. Messi also attempted 9 long balls, completing 7 of them successfully. On any other day, he would have added at least a couple of assists to his name, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Messi regularly took the ball from the defense, kept it moving and switched flanks with ease.

With a stagnant midfield behind him, Messi took the creative responsibilities on his shoulders in the first half. It was only after Coutinho’s arrival that Barcelona had another notable creative outlet on the pitch. Messi looked sharp in possession and looks ready to be his usual creative self this season.

#3 Messi the Leader

Messi was handed the armband this season, with the departure of Iniesta and immediately won the Spanish Super Cup by defeating Sevilla 2-1. He looked like a leader on the pitch against Alaves too, taking responsibility, organizing play and inspiring his teammates. He led by example and created chances after chances in the game. He seems to have left the disappointment of the World Cup behind him and looked hungry and raring to go. Barcelona look to be in good hands because they have Messi leading them. Not your usual timid, smiling Messi, but a player who is out to prove a point, who refuses to give up.

Against a resolute Alaves too, Messi took matters in his hands and lifted Barcelona up on his own. This start has signs of another defining season for Messi, this time, as a Captain and a Leader.

#2 His genius

Everyone knows Lionel Messi is the most talented dribbler on the planet. The things he can do with the ball at his left foot are stuff that make up fluffy footballing dreams. After a disappointing World Cup, Messi provided evidence in this game why he still has all the ingredients of his genius recipe intact. He attempted 6 dribbles in the game and all 6 were successful. He won 10 duels in the game and was fouled 3 times. When he hit the woodwork with his brilliant Free Kick in the first half, it looked like Lady Luck might have Barcelona.

But Messi is an artist who makes his own luck and he showed his genius in the second half, when he tactfully planted his free-kick under the wall to deceive Alaves and break the deadlock. In his first 90 minutes in the 2018/19 La Liga Season, Messi declared to the world that his is ready to be more and if humanely possible, better himself.

#1 Goals

Messi is not your average goal scorer, he is not a Number 9, he is first and foremost a 10, a creator. But it is a pity that the majority in the footballing world values a footballer only by his ability to score goals. Thankfully, Messi was never satisfied by creating alone, he has a formidable goalscoring record to his name. And so, by scoring a brace in the first game of the new season, Messi has announced his intentions early – he wants another golden shoe. He had 8 attempts in the game, out of which 4 were on target. He scored 2 goals and also hit the woodwork twice in the game.

Ultimately, goals win you matches and Messi has almost always guaranteed goals. By registering 2 goals in his very first game of the season, Messi looks ready to have another record-breaking season. Knowing his insane abilities, magical skills and sheer genius, there are very few people in the world who would bet against him.