Barcelona is once again dominating the European football landscape to replicate the success experienced under former boss Pep Guardiola. The Spanish giants are enjoying a long unbeaten run across La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey, but there is a different method to their madness.
If James Rodriguez is a Golden Boy, then he plays like one as well. We have all heard of a Golden Boy, or Golden Girl, who always did or said the right thing, and more so than that, always did the exceptional thing exceptionally well.
Looking through the honors of James’ on-field career, we see that same ability. He has been voted young player of the year in Argentina, player of the year in France, won the golden boot at the World Cup, and scored FIFA’s goal of the year.
Every Barcelona goal is beautiful. The team effort and crisp passing allowed for the La Liga leading giants to easily defeat Rayo Vallecano. Of the 5 goals scored, Lionel Messi's hat trick proved to the highlight in a lop sided match. Rayo Vallecano finished the game with 9 men as Diego Llorente and Manuel Iturra were given straight red cards in the 42nd and 67th minute, respectively. Messi's hat trick in the run of play was a tribute to Barcelona's possession dominance and his intelligence to be in the right place at the right time.
The amazing chemistry of Messi, Suarez and Neymar comes from the inside. That was the candid assertion of Barcelona forward Luis Suarez as he explained why he and his partners in attack are so successful.
"We prioritize the group objective. None of us compete with the others, but each enjoy the moment. I feel content, happy, and I'm helping the team, which is key.”
With Pep Guardiola coming to Manchester City, so too must come the media storm of transfer rumours. It feels like pretty much every player who has ever been somewhat associated with Guardiola has been linked with a move to the Sky Blues in the past month and Gerard Pique is no exception. However, the veteran Barca defender had some surprising words to say in that regard.
"My love for Manchester United is too great for me to sign for City," said Pique. "Even though Pep is a great coach."
Lionel Messi can score incredible goals in so many ways it's almost unfair. You forget how many tools he has until he brings them out.
For example, we don't typically think of Messi as a free kick specialist, and then he goes and scores an absurd bender like the one he had against Sevilla Sunday.
Lionel Messi, Steph Curry and Tom Brady were the main catalysts behind their teams' respective 2015 triumphs. Messi led Barcelona to a historic treble, Curry helped Golden State capture the NBA championship and Brady quarterbacked the New England Patriots to victory in Super Bowl XLIX.
FC Barcelona traveled to England and beat Arsenal 2 - 0. Messi scored both goals, the first in the 71st minute and the second on a penalty in the 83rd. While in Turino, Italy, Bayern took a two goal lead from Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben. Mueller scored the first goal in the 43rd minute and Robben added the 2nd in the 55th. Juventus battled back for the 2 - 2 tie with goals in the 63rd and 76th minute. The first was scored by Paulo Dybala and the tying goal came from Stefano Sturaro.
This past week Cristiano Ronaldo scored yet another goal in the Champions League. It was his 12th goal in seven such games this year, and his 89th goal in the competition all time — effectively breaking and extending his own Champions League goal-scoring record.
Ronaldo Lima played for Barcelona for one season, in 1996-97, but he knows a gifted striker when he sees one. The leading light of Brazil's most recent World Cup triumph (2002) has tapped his countryman, Neymar Jr, as the heir to Lionel Messi's throne at Barcelona.
Ronaldo told a the Brazilian media he thinks Neymar has what it takes to become Barcelona's talisman when the time comes for Messi to hang it up.