The story could have gone either way.

Tense moments lived the Blaugrana fans when the Barcelona team conceded a goal 10 minutes before the game was over.

It was not a goal that put Barca behind, it was a bitter goal that made the score tied at 1-1. In the Camp Nou.

The first thing that occurred to my mind was the question of the week: “Is Sergio Busquets good enough?” Those who saw the match against Malaga would directly know the answer. Those who did not have the chance to, the answer would be: If we agree that Busquets is in fact a good midfielder, he for sure is not good enough yet.

Not only did he lose the ball in midfield and cost Barcelona a counter-attack, he also, just like in the game against Atletico Madrid, did not have the wit to commit a foul against Malaga players in the midfield. The question in turn would be: “Is Busquets fit to play as a defensive midfielder?”

There in the Canary Islands, Real Madrid had done their job winning a huge 5-1 win against Tenerife; not with style, but with the mere team-like appearance that the Chilean coach Manuel Pelligrini is trying to build. The rankings changed for a while, Madrid was on the top of the table one point ahead of Barcelona.

All the pressure was on Barca players.

After a wonderful goalless performance by Barcelona in the first half things were becoming more critical. However, a new tactical formation by Guardiola resulted in the complete dominance of the Catalan club. Malaga players on the other side were merely watching Barcelona players play to their liking, passing the ball and not losing it easily.

That Barcelona players did not shoot at the goal in the first half against a concrete defence made things easier on Malaga, despite the few chances by Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta – Messi trying to score himself; when things become self-centered the team performs little.

The bad news coming from the Canary Islands were opposed by good news from a player who’s from the Canary Islands! Pedro, in the 68^th minute, in response to Guardiola’s orders for the team to shoot more often from outside the box lead to a powerful, unexpected, instantaneous goal as soon as he was playing as a Left Winger- a make shift from the Right Wing.

Not the first time the lucky Pedro scores in a critical well closed game. He had done it before against Almeria scoring another creative goal leaving Barcelona with a narrow 1-0 win.

The 80^th minute reminded Guardiola, the team, and the fans that it is not who plays better wins, but he who scores more wins. And the score was revealing the unfairness of football after the equalizer from Valdo. He was almost walking towards Valdes taking his time to put the ball carefully into the net while, thanks to Busquets, the defense were not well positioned, miles away from the penalty area left Valdo wandering alone.

The shy cheers coming from the Camp Nou stands did not last more than three minutes. The winning goal was smoothly scored, as if Barcelona were scoring to have fun not worrying about the points, ranks or anything else!

A piece of art. Beethoven composing, Picasso drawing, Cervantes writing, FC Barcelona scoring!

A wonderful pass from the midfield master Xavi; an assist from the master of the right flank Alves; a shot from the master of world football Messi. Words cannot reach the beauty of the goal; the way it was played, and the mentality with which it was performed.  2-1.

The assist came from a player whose presence gave all the balance back to the Barcelona team. After he picked up an injury during the warm up in the game against Getafe and after missing 3 weeks, Alves was back yesterday to explode. He was almost fed up with the team’s performance and was in yesterday to help the offence down the right flank. His great effort between crosses, passes, tackles, were awarded by a critical assist in the 83^rd minute. The ball came out of his foot calling for Messi’s foot; yes you will score.

The team did not win because of referees and they do not need that – for those who tried hard to prove a conspiracy. Instead Ibra was denied a legal goal.

However, the stereotype is sometimes stronger than reality. So every other player who throws himself in front of Ibrahimovic will for sure be given a foul. It depends on how gifted the opponent player is in acting, the referee’s decision could vary between a simple foul to a red card for the Swedish player!

Things seem promising. And from now on, the German team Stuttgart will better be prepared.

by: Rasmi