Shame, I was really hoping Flamengo could pull it off when they got to extra time. But Liverpool have won an annoyingly high number of close matches/ties this year, so I shouldn't have expected anything different. At least the world champion insignia is finally off Real Madrid's shirt after three years. About time...
Barcelona sign off in 2019 with a 4-1 win over Deportivo Alaves at Camp Nou.
Before the game, a tribute was paid to our team that achieved a complete sweep of titles - the sextuple (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup) in 2009. The 10 year anniversary was yesterday, exactly a decade after the day when Pedro's late header lob equalizer and Messi's extra time winner with his chest against Estudiantes sealed our first ever intercontinental/club world cup trophy, one of the most emotional days in FC Barcelona history.
Since then, Barca have been the only club in men's football to achieve this feat.
As for the game, Griezmann opened the scoring with a first time right foot finish after Suarez's return ball wasn't cleared, while a nice quick move with short passes was finished by Vidal from tighter angle for a 2-0 lead at halftime. When it looked like it was going to be a cruise, Pons' header at the beginning of the second half gave a big confidence boost for Alaves who narrowly missed out on an equalizer from a counter attack and a corner. Fortunately Leo ensured a calm finish with yet another beautiful goal outside the penalty area while he was surrounded by four players. That strike meant he has scored 50 in a calendar year for a ninth time now. And just a few minutes later, Suarez won the penalty when his header attempt was blocked by the defender's elbow. He took it himself and scored. MSG have done their job for the fourth time this season. And on Luis' individual note, this was his 10th goal in La Liga this season, meaning he has hit double digits in the league in all of his fifteen seasons as a senior professional, with only the first one being outside Europe. He is now just four away from breaking into Barcelona's top three goalscorers, and it wouldn't be wise to bet against him doing it next month already. He remains valuable.
No football for us until the 4th of January when we will play currently last placed Espanyol. Then a bizarre Supercup awaits in Arabia, where we won't be playing the cup winner for the trophy like it is the traditional format, but this time there are four participants. Barca will play Atletico in one semifinal, Valencia will play Real in the other. What a poor way of ruining what was a perfectly fine season opener of our football.
Barcelona will finish 2019 on top of the table, unless Real Madrid win by seven goals tomorrow. As I said after Wednesday's awful match against Real Madrid, this season won't end well the way it is going, certainly won't in the Champions League at least. If I am being honest I am more happy and hopeful right now than I was in August-September, but it's impossible for me to see the team end this season's marathon on a high (except in La Liga where we will always have a chance).
On a non-serious note, I was wondering
@Poisoned Slice , could you be the one behind this little piece of art? The series that combine with football here are your thing, no?
