Gerard Piqué celebrated Barcelona's last second win by trolling Cristiano Ronaldo
This tweet was posted right after Lionel Messi scored a last second penalty to win the game, and if you need context, here it is: every time Ronaldo scores a goal, he runs, jumps and comes down screaming "BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!", and Real Madrid fans all over the world scream with him. The funny thing is Ronaldo does this celebration only for meaningless goals, those that don't really decide a game.
So Piqué trolls Ronaldo by doing the BOOM celebration for a last second game-winner from Leo Messi in one of the toughest stadiums in Europe. It's a genius way of making fun of Madrid without being offensive.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) ٢٢ أكتوبر، ٢٠١٦
Who can replace Andres Iniesta?
It's no secret that the Blaugrana have suffered all season long with their midfield. Not only have Barça begun to completely bypass their midfield during plays, the form of Sergio Busquets has made the Blaugrana's midfield a liability.
Andres Iniesta however, was the lone bright-spot in a gloomy midfield that has been struggling to maintain any semblance of control. With the captain down for two months with a partial ligament tear, there is a bigger question at hand and it is regarding his replacement in the Gala XI.
With the kind of depth that the squad has in midfield, it's high time that one of the bench pieces steps their game up a notch and makes the most of the opportunity. Here's a look at what each of the options could possibly offer.
Arda Turan: The Turk has been a revelation since the start of the season and is the most likely candidate to replace the Spanish veteran. Having carved himself some game time in the absence of Neymar, Arda has often emerged as an attacking outlet for the Blaugrana. Looking at the faith that the coach has shown in the "bearded Spartan", he could very well be gearing up for another spell in the XI.
Andre Gomes: Despite arriving in the summer, the Portuguese has managed to gain the attention of the coaching staff and fans alike, with his ability to provide control and play a more intricate passing game than any of the other available options. His positional awareness and calm presence will be highly seductive to the coaching staff, as they contemplate on who can replace the injured captain.
Rafinha: A man in sensational form, Rafinha is another one of Lucho's trusted men. The academy graduate has recovered well from his ligament tear last season and has put on his goal-scoring boots off late. An incredible engine and ball control enable the Brazilian to make a solid impact in plenty of games, and that's exactly what Lucho will want in a temporary replacement.
Denis Suarez: The wild card in this entire scenario is the super-sub Denis Suarez who has had decent showings everytime he has come on, in the last few games. Brought in specifically from Manchester City to replace Iniesta, the Galician will have his work cut out due to playing in an unfamiliar role. However, his determination and natural attacking instincts could be just what the doctor ordered.
Who do you think should replace Iniesta in the Gala XI and why? Let us know in the comments below!
Report: FC Barcelona interested in USA, Borussia Dortmund sensation Christian Pulisic
One of the best young prospects in the history of United States football could be on his way to the world's best team in the near future.
18-year-old winger Christian Pulisic has been impressing over at Borussia Dortmund, and the American rising star is catching the eye of Barcelona scouts, according to reports in Spain. Pulisic can play on either wing and is a quick, skilled player who can beat defenders one-on-one thanks to his pace and quality.
Pulisic is also being coached by Thomas Tuchel, one of the best tacticians on Earth who loves to develop young players, meaning that the young American could become a very good footballer in a few years. With three goals and four assists in nine appearances for Dortmund this season, the youngster is a seriously good prospect, and Barça are not the only one interested in him.
Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have all been linked with moving for Pulisic in the last few months. But every young player today dreams to play for Barça, so if the Blaugrana are actually interested in him, they would probably be the favorites to land his signing.
This might happen in the future, but it's a good idea to let Pulisic develop for a few more years at Dortmund. He's just 18, and he'll learn and get better with time. Still, an American player at Barça? That'd be cool, and also a great marketing idea for the New York office!
This might just be the best photo of Lionel Messi
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If a picture is worth a thousand words, then why are journalists and bloggers across the world still attempting to capture and distill the brilliance of Lionel Messi in the written form? We’ve all seen the moments captured by photographers in the UEFA Champions League; Messi unwittingly jogs past the latest Mastercard advert, and the moment comes together to ironically provide us with a more succinct insight on Messi than any journalist could aspire to create.
There are so many split-second Messi moments that have been captured on film over the years, but it’s this photo, the one at the top of this page that might just be my favourite.
This is a photo that demonstrates the importance of sticking to your beliefs, following the gameplan and maintaining total confidence in yourself.
Barcelona were on the brink this afternoon at the Mestalla, and based the way that the match was unfolding, it seemed like nothing was going to go their way. They had lost Andres Iniesta to injury in the first half, lost the lead early in the second and appeared to lose their way as they approached the final stages of the game.
In this, their worst start to a season in over a decade, few would have been surprised if Barcelona had lost faith. Certainly the majority of Culés watching the match were resigned to the fact that this match was headed for another disappointing ending – but in amidst the negativity and the difficulties that Barcelona faced today, they kept believing. Even as the fourth official signalled for just two minutes of additional time, Barça didn’t panic. They didn’t rush, they didn’t force it; they just carried on playing.
The sequence of play that led to the decisive penalty was vintage Barcelona. Facing a wall of white shirts, Neymar and Messi combined in intricate fashion to scythe their way through theValencia defense before Aymen Abdennour returned the favour with his ill-timed challenge on Suarez. Every mistake, every missed opportunity that led up to this moment could be forgotten – dependent upon the outcome of the resulting penalty kick.
Step forward Lionel Messi.
Messi may be priceless, and he is the undisputed master, but his footballing omnipotence hasn’t extended to the penalty spot with any great consistency. Cometh the hour however… even up against the greatest penalty saving goalkeeper in the game and even with Diego Alves (on a yellow card) engaging in over-the-top mind games, when the whistle was blown, it all ceased to be relevant.
Lionel Messi transcends statistics, tactics and precedent – and if you’re really lucky, once he’s done teaching you that, he might just blow you a kiss.
