Barcelona Vs. Atletico Madrid: 2-0 Halftime, Lionel Messi Has A Brace

I hope that Atletico Madrid didn’t pick out this game as a possible catalyst to jump start their campaign, because it’s been all Barcelona in the first 45 minutes. The Blaugranes turned in a dominating first half effort, highlighted by their trademark 80% possession statistic and a brace from Lionel Messi.

Both goals were hardly gifted to Messi and required some serious effort from him. For the first goal, Messi cut inside from the right wing, dribbling through a sea of defenders before scoring from 20 yards with his left foot. The second goal, technically assisted by David Villa, was earned after he won a 50-50 ball with Antonio Lopez before finishing past David De Gea.

Quique Sanchez Flores has responded to his team’s poor first half performance, making a substitution. Diego Forlan, who did not start the match for unknown reasons, has entered the game for Fran Merida. This isn’t likely to do much to help Atleti win the ball away from the Blaugranes, but it might help them to get away a shot or two in the second half. You know, on the rare occasion that they have the ball.