Barca sink the Yellow Submarine with season’s best

Photo by Pablo Morano/MB Media/Getty Images

Great performance from Quique Setien’s men

It might be too little, too late, but let’s not be too harsh on everyone after what was a season’s best performance almost right across the 90 minutes.

When the line-up for the match at Villarreal was announced, the absence of Riqui Puig would surely have elicited collective groans from culers wherever they were watching, but Quique Setien was quickly proved correct with his selection.

He hasn’t got much right recently, but credit where it’s due.

On this occasion, the Cantabrian got things spot on and Villarreal didn’t know what had hit them in the opening 20 minutes, Gerard Moreno’s goal notwithstanding.

Photo by MJ Segovia / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images

Messi was clearly in the mood, Suarez too, and Griezmann looked like a man possessed. The goals from the Uruguayan and the Frenchman were a joy to behold.

Both first time finishes, both out of the top drawer and both assisted by Messi. One more assist for the Argentinian, and he will become the first player EVER to both score and assist 20 times in the same season.

This performance was about so much more than MSN though.

The way in which the midfield clicked, particularly how dangerous Sergi Roberto became in an attacking sense, and seeing the full-backs work so diligently... it spoke of renewed hope even if silverware is gone for us this season.

Lest we forget that the Yellow Submarine have been no mugs this season. Javi Calleja has had them playing very well indeed, and they might even have been slight favourites heading into this match.

Make no mistake, this is a huge result for Barcelona and for Setien.

Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images

With four points to make up in four games, it’s a nigh-on impossible task but all that supporters will be asking of the players and coaches at this point is that they give absolutely everything.

Then, who knows?!

If nothing else it’s given the club, the team and the manager a shot in the arm at just the right moment.

Could it be the turning point for Setien and also Griezmann? When the latter plays like that, and it was probably his best performance in the Blaugrana, then he is absolutely worthy of a place alongside Suarez and Messi.

Maybe, with eyes now wide open, the coaching staff can see a pathway to getting the best out of him which, as we saw with his intricate play with Messi, will bring the best out of everyone else.

The shape of things to come in 2020/21, or just a flash in the pan against an expansive side that allowed us to play football?

Source: barcablaugranes.com