Lionel Messi is the hero of the Almogavers, Barca's ultra group named after the Catalan invaders who dominated the Mediterranean in the 13th century. Unlike the Boixos Nois who used to occupy the other end of the stadium before being banned, the Almogavers don't advocate violence. They do advocate singing Messi's name as often as possible and have a hard to translate song which finishes: "Oooo Leo Messi, God of football. Score a goal!" And he usually does.
On Wednesday night in the Copa del Rey semi-final against Villarreal, Messi put his side ahead after a first half of dominance. Luis Suarez set him up after pouncing on ponderous defender Musacchio, robbing the ball and rolling it to the Argentine.
A minute later, Messi returned the favour and while Suarez's shot went wide, the couple of hundred Almogavers who stand behind the goal broke into song. It was not for Messi as usual, but Suarez.
"Suaarrrez, Suaarrrez, Suaarrrez," they hollered and fans around the stadium joined in. With his season beginning in October after his ban for biting was served, Suarez hasn't enjoyed the spectacular season at his new club that he enjoyed last year. He started slowly, looked a touch overweight and not match fit or sharp in front of goal. But he's improving every month.
He's also happy in Barcelona, long-time home of his wife's parents. He told his international team-mates about the move from Liverpool well before it had been completed.
Whether his Barcelona career is successful depends chiefly on how he gels with Messi and Neymar. Against Villarreal he was excellent, as he was against a determined Athletic Club on Sunday night in Barca's 5-2 win. After a full-scale emergency at the club (they lost a solitary game to Real Sociedad in January), Luis Enrique's side have now won ten in succession, with Messi scoring 11 in those wins.
They're hitting form at the right time. They've got one foot in the Copa del Rey final after a 3-1 first leg win, they're second in the table and just a point behind Real Madrid with the Camp Nou clasico still to be played. And they face Manchester City in the Champions League.
Barca have by far the best defence in La Liga having conceded just 13 goals in 22 games. Madrid, who've let 22 in, conceded four against Atletico in the Calderon on Saturday alone.
While the defence deserves credit, the focus of the attention at Barca is at the other end of the pitch on the usual trident of Neymar, Messi and Suarez.
With 34 goals and 17 assists, Messi has been directly involved in 51 of Barcelona's 105 goals this season. Superlatives have been exhausted on Messi, but Neymar and now Suarez are attracting some of their own.
"The good players find it easy to work with each other," said Enrique of his heralded forwards. "And we are fortunate that in addition to the football relationship, the players have a personal relationship. This also helps."
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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates (AFP)
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates (AFP)
Such a good relationship is not a given as Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham may attest, or as in the sometimes cool dynamic between Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic or David Villa. The three South Americans from neighbouring countries are all from a working class background, they're neighbours and socialise together.
The attacking possibilities offered by triumvirate are good enough to make them the best front line in football. They are encouraged to switch with each other during the match to further befuddle defenders. One can afford a quiet game if two are in form. They're also ruthless in exposing errors.
"The match was like a horror film," said Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia. "Barcelona took advantage of our errors and scored two goals we didn't expect. We had two players injured, one of which could be serious... And all that pushes us farther away from the final."
Suarez was involved in Barca's second goal courtesy of a one-two with Andres Iniesta. That brought more chants of appreciation to lift his confidence. As did a late effort on the Villarreal goal from just inside his own half. Players don't attempt shots like that when they're short of confidence.
"I'm happy that they (Messi and Suarez) found each other," said Barca goalkeeper Ter Stegen. "In training we are working hard for this and it's getting better and better and better. It's really important for them to know how they run and do things."
Suarez is looking more comfortable with every game, his chemistry with Messi clear. Barca didn't need his goals as much as Liverpool, but they're a better team for his work rate, vision, assists and ability to go past a player one on one. He's given the team a shot of energy, like Edgar Davids did a decade ago.
He can help Messi become even better, with his assists or allowing Messi an option to move out right and Suarez to play in his preferred central role.
His international ban means he's not sapped by trans-Atlantic trips back to South America and he'll miss Copa America. Barca's most expensive signing has also lost those tiring trips to Barcelona from Liverpool to see family. He now lives where he works.
Suarez is not as prolific as he was at Anfield with six goals from 20 appearances so far this season, yet he's made twice as many assists. Given his huge fee, his good form should be expected and as the Villarreal coach Marcelino pointed out pre match, Barcelona's front three are worth "seven or eight times more" than his club's entire annual budget.
Judgements will be made at the end of the season, but it's not just the Almogavers who are beginning to believe that they are worth it.
Andy Mitten - @AndyMitten.
By Eurosport(Pitchside)
Culled from Yahoo News.
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