Barcelona 1-0 Real Valladolid
After successive La Liga draws, this was a contest the Spanish champions needed to return to winning ways in.
That they did was no surprise to SBOBET followers, nor the La Liga 2019 betting odds.
In the end it proved to be a tale of two M’s on a milestone evening.
Highlights of the game
Those M’s were Lionel Messi and Jordi Masip.
They provided the La Liga 2019 highlights in this one and ensured the outcome remained in the balance until the end.
Barca, keen not to drop more points after their last NouCamp encounter, were in the ascendancy as you’d expect and before kick-off the Catalans acknowledged one of their own as Gerard Pique became the third defender in the history of the Spanish top flight to reach 300 appearances.
Then when the action began Barca started to crank up the pressure, met by spirited resistance from strugglers Real Valladolid.
The moment that decided the contest arrived just before the break.
Pique was fouled in the penalty area by Michel. Michel had his arms around the defender’s shoulders and that was enough to warrant a spot-kick.
Messi did the rest from 12 yards, dispatching the spot-kick into the right hand corner, despite the best efforts of Masip.
From that moment it seemed to be the Messi v Masip show.
One typical run saw the Argentine maestro jink past four players before he laid the ball off to Ousmane Dembele who seemed set to score before some dogged defending blocked the goalbound effort.
Messi would have had another himself only for Masip to produce the save of the match, getting a hand to keep out the no 10’s volley.
There was more.
Substitute Luis Suarez had just Masip to beat when the goalkeeper saved with his legs and then stopped the follow-up from Dembele.
Suarez was also left kicking himself when it seemed easier to score shortly afterwards, trying instead to square the ball to team mate Sergi Roberto and instead missing his kick.
Masip capped a man of the match display in the closing stages when another sub, Philippe Coutinho, was brought down by Kiko Olivas and the home side was awarded a second penalty.
Messi placed the ball on the spot and sent the ball where he had expertly despatched it in the first half but this time Masip was equal to it, superbly pushing the shot to safety.
Masip even had time to deny Suarez once more as Barcelona moved seven points clear at the summit.
For Barca the points, for Masip the plaudits.
Key statistics
Piqué became the third defender to reach 300+ league appearances for Barcelona after Carles Puyol (392) and Migueli (391).
Messi has scored 30 goals in each of his last 11 seasons for Barcelona in all competitions.
Messi attempted 12 shots against Valladolid, the most by a player in a game in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
What’s next?
It’s a big spell ahead for Barcelona.
They travel to Lyon for the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday (February 19) before heading to Sevilla in La Liga next weekend.
Its then two El Clasicos in four days – both at the Bernabeu.
The second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final is poised at 1-1 after the first 90 minutes and then it’s back to La Liga where Real will be seeking to avenge a 5-1 hammering in late October, a result which cost Julen Lopetegui his job.
Valladolid’s schedule is less hectic.
They entertain Real Betis a week tomorrow (February 24) before travelling to Espanyol on March 1.
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