Match Report: Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla

Xavi’s grip on Iniesta’s thigh: distracting? Alright, we’ll go on to the important: Barca beat Sevilla 4-0 with Messi on the bench! If that’s not awesomeness, we just don’t know what is.

So, shall we begin gushing about how wonderful Barca is? We’ve been doing that a lot recently, and in the end, it’s enough to say that this is just a perfectly complete team: the boys are hot, they play great, there is beauty in their football, their team chemistry is spectacular; and there’s a lot of camaraderie between the players, on pitch and off. What’s not to love?

Leo Messi had been suffering from stomach flu prior to the match, which is why Pep chose to not to play him, though he was available on the bench. Andres Iniesta started in Leo’s place, and more than made up for the absence; he was simply incredible, and scored Barca’s opening goal within two minutes of the starting whistle. The goal was amazing, an individual effort from Andresito rocketed in from twenty yards out; lovely.

Iniesta set up the next goal not long after, and Eto’o finished beautifully to increase the lead. Two more goals were rained on Sevilla’s net by Xavi and Henry, and with the score at four goals to none the match was as good as over.

The players were all on and alert and their performance was unforgettable; the team just radiates strength, and this match gives us much-needed reassurance that the big matches coming up will be no problem.

Barca’s schedule is tight, and packed with top teams which the boys are set to face consecutively: Valencia, Real Madrid, two legs against Chelsea, and more… but if the boys go on as they were yesterday, we should have nothing to worry about.

On a side note: Don’t you just love how cuddly Barca’s matches always are? The players really can’t go without these adorable group hugs; we are liking much. And aren’t these images of Samu with his shirt up (below) really something? We love his expression in the first one. We notice too that Rafa Marquez got his hair trimmed (those curls will the death of us, someday) and Messi too has a haircut. How cute was he, with his feet up over the seat backs where he was benched? We hope his stomach is all better!