Taken via: AS
When Montoya came on for Alves in the 14th minute, all eleven players on the pitch for Barça had come through their academy. Vilanova's men dispatched Levante with two goals from Messi and another two from Cesc and Iniesta, who provided three assists.
The night that Barcelona had eleven home-grown players on the pitch for the first time in their history (according to a generally agreed idea of what constitutes a home-grown player) was the same one that they opened up their advantage over Real Madrid to eleven points in the 2012/13 Liga. They only have three more than Atlético, their closest pursuer and most obvious rival, but the way they dispatched Levante in the first 15 minutes of the second half gives them, like it or not, the billing of undeniable favourites for the championship.
Since last night, Tito Vilanova had known that up for grabs was the chance to strike a heavy blow to Madrid's Liga hopes. His improvisation was, minimal; looking at the Barça teamsheet before the game you might have thought the title was being decided here in Valencia tonight. Barça's gala eleven, the same as in Moscow with Puyol in as captain for Mascherano was upset early on by another injury to Dani Alves. But the game's script was written before the kick-off, because few teams differ so much in style as Levante and Barcelona. Juan Ignacio Martínez's men battled bravely in the first-half, but drained their energy. Barça played in possession. So much so that they only caused a scare with Messi's shot (22nd minute) and a number of Iniesta-Alba interchanges down the left side. Levante responded with their peerless idea of the counter attack. Barkero, with his excellent left foot and Martins troubled Valdés. With the apparent balance of play, it was impossible to imagine the storm that was coming. But Barça had chewed the game over enough and were ready to strike.
Messi opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a subtle chip over Munúa after Iniesta spotted him lose his marker. He dedicated goal number 81 of 2012 to his son Thiago. Six minutes later, the Argentine put the match out of reach with another opportunistic strike. Again, the source was Iniesta, who decided to keep the exhibition going: he scored a great goal (0-3) and provided an assist for the fourth, scored by Cesc. They made the last half an hour seem an eternity for Levante. Vilanova used the opportunity to bring back Adriano and Thiago. Shouts of "champions, champions" and "mucho Betis" rang around the Ciutat de Valencia stadium. There are some in Barcelona who feel like champions with only a third of the campaign behind them. Too early, perhaps...
The night that Barcelona had eleven home-grown players on the pitch for the first time in their history (according to a generally agreed idea of what constitutes a home-grown player) was the same one that they opened up their advantage over Real Madrid to eleven points in the 2012/13 Liga. They only have three more than Atlético, their closest pursuer and most obvious rival, but the way they dispatched Levante in the first 15 minutes of the second half gives them, like it or not, the billing of undeniable favourites for the championship.
Since last night, Tito Vilanova had known that up for grabs was the chance to strike a heavy blow to Madrid's Liga hopes. His improvisation was, minimal; looking at the Barça teamsheet before the game you might have thought the title was being decided here in Valencia tonight. Barça's gala eleven, the same as in Moscow with Puyol in as captain for Mascherano was upset early on by another injury to Dani Alves. But the game's script was written before the kick-off, because few teams differ so much in style as Levante and Barcelona. Juan Ignacio Martínez's men battled bravely in the first-half, but drained their energy. Barça played in possession. So much so that they only caused a scare with Messi's shot (22nd minute) and a number of Iniesta-Alba interchanges down the left side. Levante responded with their peerless idea of the counter attack. Barkero, with his excellent left foot and Martins troubled Valdés. With the apparent balance of play, it was impossible to imagine the storm that was coming. But Barça had chewed the game over enough and were ready to strike.
Messi opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a subtle chip over Munúa after Iniesta spotted him lose his marker. He dedicated goal number 81 of 2012 to his son Thiago. Six minutes later, the Argentine put the match out of reach with another opportunistic strike. Again, the source was Iniesta, who decided to keep the exhibition going: he scored a great goal (0-3) and provided an assist for the fourth, scored by Cesc. They made the last half an hour seem an eternity for Levante. Vilanova used the opportunity to bring back Adriano and Thiago. Shouts of "champions, champions" and "mucho Betis" rang around the Ciutat de Valencia stadium. There are some in Barcelona who feel like champions with only a third of the campaign behind them. Too early, perhaps...
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