Barcelona have had a perfect start to the La Liga season, winning all six of their games so far. PHOTO: AFP
After being out-possessed for the first time in more than five years in the 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Barca looked more like their old selves with 68% of the ball as they pulled Sociedad to pieces in the first period.
Goals from Neymar, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets put them 3-0 up at the break, and Marc Bartra rounded off the scoring for the hosts after Alberto de la Bella had pulled a goal back for Sociedad.
“I am happy with everything that we saw,” said Martino. “We want to have variation in our play, a change of pace and vertical attacks and it was all there, more in the first-half than in the second.
“However, we maintained our pressing for the whole match and that is sensational news for us.”
In accordance with his policy of rotating and resting his stars when possible, Martino withdrew both Messi and Neymar in the final quarter and the Argentine insisted that it is his job to protect Messi, even if his compatriot never wants to come off.
“He never wants to leave the field but I have to look after him. He needs to be in the right condition for the business end of the season.
“I have spoken with him and he never wants to come off because Leo always wants to play and finish the games. But if I change him it is so he can accumulate rest, I will not change him in a tight game.”
The only negative to come out of the match for the hosts was a hamstring injury picked up by Javier Mascherano which will keep him out for up to two weeks.
In-form Costa delivers again for Atletico
While Messi has, as usual, been hogging the headlines, another South American, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa, has hit a rich vein of form to join the Argentine on seven goals at the top of the scoring chart. Combative Brazil forward Costa has started the campaign with a bang, easing into the gap left by departed striker Radamel Falcao, and his performances have helped Diego Simeone’s side match Messi’s Barcelona with a perfect six wins from their opening six games.
The 24-year-old netted a double in Tuesday’s 2-1 home win over Osasuna to extend their unbeaten run.
Elsewhere, Malaga continued their recent revival with a 2-0 win over Almeria with goals from Fernando Tissone and Francisco Portillo. Valladolid held on to claim a point in a 1-1 draw away to Levante despite playing the entire second-half with just 10 men.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2013.
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