Barcelona’s start to the season has contained plenty of positives, with a 100 per cent record being built on the back of five consecutive clean sheets.
New signings Claudio Bravo, Jeremy Mathieu and Ivan Rakitic have settled quickly, and young strikers Munir El Haddadi and Sandro have both been among the goals.
Arguably the biggest plus, however, has been the rejuvenation of star man Lionel Messi, who looks a completely different player to the jaded, unenergetic performer who did little to help his team’s ailing title bid at the end of last season.
Messi is the only player to have been fielded for every minute of every game, and he has rewarded new boss Luis Enrique by playing a fundamental role in the team’s attacking efforts – with the notable difference that he is now providing more goals than he is scoring.
Messi’s pair of assists in Sunday’s 5-0 walk in the park at Levante – a brilliant through ball for Neymar and a neat square pass to Sandro – mean that he has now contributed no less than six assists in the season’s opening five games.
And when the Argentine’s three goals are added to the equation, he has directly participated in nine of the team’s 12 goals.
Enrique once again found himself searching for superlatives after the victory over Levante, saying: “Messi is a special, unique player. His teammates know he can make spectacular assists and I love it when they connect like that.”
Perhaps a more telling comment, though, came from the club’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, who acknowledged that Messi is currently completely happy with life at the Nou Camp.
That was rumoured not to be the case at various stages last season, with Messi thought to be unimpressed by the coaching methods of compatriot Tata Martino and displeased with the club’s board as they dragged their feet over a new contract.
Zubizarreta made it clear all that is in the past, saying: “You can see that Messi is enjoying himself – every training session and every game. He looks good with the dynamic of the team.”
The former goalkeeper also made light of Messi’s only blemish after he blazed a first-half penalty wide, smiling: “We can forgive him a missed penalty this time.”
One player who has particularly benefitted from Messi’s clinical passing is Brazilian star Neymar, whose three goals this season have all come directly from Messi passes.
However, Neymar is a doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Malaga after suffering an ankle injury which forced his removal early in the second half.
Midfielder Rakitic could also miss out with a bruised foot, with Xavi on stand by for his first league start of the season.
