Five games, zero goals - how has Simeone stopped Messi? With Barcelona needing to score at the Calderon on Wednesday to stay in the Champions League, Goal takes a look at how their best player has been nullified by the Rojiblancos 9 Apr 2014 09:22:00 ANALYSIS By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer How do you stop Lionel Messi? Coaches all over the world have thought long and hard in an attempt to discover an antidote to the Argentines brilliance, but very few have managed it. Thwarting the four-time Ballon dOr winner is almost impossible, it seems, yet one man has done it five times in a row. Diego Simeone has had some fortune on his side during that time, but the Argentines remarkable record against his compatriot is much more than just luck and certainly no coincidence. So how has he done it? Messi made hay against Atletico for many a year, netting 20 goals in his first 14 fixtures versus the Madrid side. But since Simeones arrival, he has found himself halted and is now without a goal in his last five games against the Rojiblancos: 341 minutes in total. The first of those was a 2-1 win for Barca at the Calderon in La Liga last season. Messi started, but barely threatened. One defence-splitting pass almost let in Cristian Tello, but Diego Godin was alert to cut out the danger, while Messi also sent a free kick straight at Thibaut Courtois before suffering a recurrence of his thigh problem and departing after 67 minutes. In his absence, Barca actually improved and turned the game around with only 10 men on the pitch as Alexis Sanchez levelled and Gabi scored an own goal. The teams next meeting was in the Spanish Supercopa, also at the Calderon. And as in the previous match, Messi was forced off with an injury - this time at the interval. While on the pitch, the Argentine played one clever pass through to Pedro and also fired a shot wide from the edge of the area. But that was about it. Neymar cancelled out David Villas opener in the second half as the game ended 1-1. Eight days later, Barca and Atleti met again at Camp Nou and Messi made a return to the starting XI. The Argentine began brilliantly and was denied by Courtois early on after latching onto a pass from Sergio Busquets. But the 26-year-old was caught up in a physical battle and complained to the referee at half-time. Less impressive in the second period, Messi was unable to find a way through even after Filipe Luis was sent off and also blasted a late penalty against the bar. The game ended goalless, but Barca won the Supercopa thanks to Neymars away strike in Madrid. In January, Simeones side then frustrated Barca once again in another goalless game at the Calderon. Messi, recently recovered from the thigh injury which had seen him sidelined for most of November and December, was left on the bench by Gerardo Martino and introduced at half-time in place of Andres Iniesta. Productive in his 45-minute cameo, Leo left empty-handed in large part due to Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper deflected one dangerous cross out for a corner and made a stunning save to repel a left-footed drive late on. Messi also headed wide and sent one precise pass through to Cesc Fabregas, who was quickly crowded out by Godin, Joao Miranda and Filipe Luis.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 10:15:13 +0000
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