Bayer Leverkusen 1 Barcelona 3
The Germans just sat back and defended with nine men.
Nothing much happened for 41 minutes.
Then Alexis Sanchez won a header on the halfway line and knocked the ball to Messi and scooted through onto Messi’s pass.
Alexis is compact, fast, balanced, very determined, kept his feet on a slippery pitch and slotted a fantastic goal, took one touch before shooting in off the keeper’s ankle. An explosive burst from an explosive striker-winger.
Second half, Czech defender Michal Kadlec jumped for a ball at the far post and headed in for 1-1 in 52 minutes. Good goal.
Leverkusen were level for three minutes.
A sublime through-pass from Fabregas released Alexis again and he scored one of the finest goals in the Champions League this season.
Football is a game for small Latins, I often say.
I still love football, still love to watch great players combine to win big games.
On his own, Alexis had already won two of my three bets. I’d backed him EW to score the first goal. And I backed Over 2.5/3 goals, rather risky given Barca’s away form this season.
After 64, Lekerkusen’s Gonzalo Castro hit the post via the fingertips of Victor Valdes.
After 72, the cheekiest dribble took Messi through at the near post and his dink-shot hit that post.
In 88, Messi knocked in a preposterously accurate Dani Alves cross for 3-1.
I love Alexis Sanchez because he’s the most competitive forward of genius I’ve seen since Denis Law.
He’s a far more suitable partner for Messi than Zlatan Ibrahimovic or David Villa ever were. Alexis runs behind defences like fiery Freddie Ljungberg but he’s far more skilful than Freddie.
He’s very efficient. He doesn’t miss many chances. He has huge focus. Here he had three shots, three on target, two goals and keeper Leno a made a great save from his header from a left-wing corner.
Alexis Sanchez has desire, appetite, a rage to win. But it\’s a controlled rage. He’s tough but fair in a hard sport where the best strikers get fouled and abused all night long.
If he stays fit, Barcelona will walk the Champions League.
Is that a reckless thing to say in mid-February? Yes. But Myles Palmer puts his balls on the rails. It’s my duty and privilege to save ANR readers from three months of worry and confusion.
Don\’t stress about the Champions League.
Barcelona will win it again.