Football Scouting: Xavi ends the suspense

A Siqueira shot in the first half, was the closest I was seeing Victor Valdes endanger zero in his goal. It was a half hour. About an hour later, when the result was immovable and when Barcelona would come across again and again with a tone and Granada incombustible exceptionally well planted, Orellana took a pass from El Arabi left him alone with the Blaugrana goalkeeper, who stopped the clear chance yet of a possible cardiac arrest some amateur blaugrana, incredulous at what they saw his eyes in the 84th minute.

The Barcelona went sleepy. He did it with some surprise in the team, as the inclusion of Song in the axis of the rear, accompanying unpublished Mascherano in a duo that had its first fling against Spartak. Unlike continental duel, Cameroon, unusual in that position, rather than an encounter caught on right, cutting balls in defensive duties, not complicated life and joining the attack on plays where the ball was in the air. Bartra, the option to lower canterana Puyol and Piqué, watched from the bench the good work of the last signing.

One that came out of the game and that surprised, but for other reasons, was Messi. When Argentina was seen very eager, sometimes desperate. More than usual. Probably because the bunker that brought Anquela mounted head. On 10 wanted, but could not. And he had a row with Villa-another novelty with Thiago, who would not hide when the Spaniard not passed a ball to first. There was a 'spectacular anger' , as some say, but a little image in the set given Barcelona. Meat, in any case, critics of the club.

The conversation between the Guaje and Flea was the highlight in the first half. The picture which starred speaks highly of Granada, that while he played with almost all the troops in the field, did not refuse to go out on the counter as he could. The second act was something else. Not wonderful, but different. Barca began to find its identity: the combinations were beginning to take effect and sometimes succeeded. But here, as a reinforced concrete wall was Toño, his mittens and his reflexes. Able to stop everything. Or almost all. Tell that to Cesc, Messi or Xavi. Well, not quite Xavi.

Tito hit squarely in the changes. She put Pedro, Xavi and Tello and ended up playing with a defense that almost three plays tricks. But risked. And he won. Monumental was Xavi, the local metronome, the compass must. And like a dagger slipped through the band Tello. The kid, yet incomprehensibly tabbed subsidiary missing some aspects of polishing, but adds that spark and speed that stresses both the leading run defense all game. He went broke, attended. And from the left flank watched the Camp Nou with a 1-0 burst.

It happened after the said time of Orellana. With the shock in the body, with the stopwatch accelerating at a rapid pace and with a tie that had known a glory to visitors and defeat for the hosts, Peter slipped the ball inside the area. The 'nuisance' of Alexis tried to catch him but the defender's clearance fell to Xavi boots, with an incredible shot with the instep of his right boot the ball stayed in the meshes of a dejected Toño. But not before playing in the wood but not before adding that intrigue madness unleashed at the Estadi. Despite modest model rival, became hard time passing them. But the award came with four minutes.

The hardest already been achieved. The goal that resisted, and how he was joined in prolonging the Borja Gomez own goal after a solo run from Messi. The decibels were not the same as the first, but both confirmed the club's perfect record in this early season league. Five out of five. Fifteen points leader with fifteen possible and solvency. Sleeping eleven points behind Real Madrid, which is measured on Sunday at home to Rayo Vallecano, was a valuable addition to a night that was close to finishing a nightmare.