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Lionel Messi Highlights Vs Atletico Madrid Show Everything Still Goes Through Him

Lionel Messi Highlights Vs Atletico Madrid Show Everything Still Goes Through Him

It's not for a lack of trying on Lionel Messi's part but Barcelona just aren't very good right now, as loss to Atletico Madrid showed.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Atletico Madrid got their first La Liga win in over 10 years against Barcelona on Saturday night but, despite coming in for criticism, highlights show Lionel Messi is still extremely important for how Barca play.

Diego Simeone got his first league win over the Catalan giants as manager, as Yannick Carasco's goal separated the two sides, after Marc-Andre ter Stegen's gaffe.

Barcelona weren't very good and the loss leaves Ronald Koeman's side nine points off table toppers Real Sociedad after just eight games this season, having won only three times.

Messi came in for a lot of criticism for his lack of leadership,with 17-year-old Pedri sent to do the post match interview, but he's clearly still important for the side.

His personal highlights show how hard he tried to create something for his teammates and how much of their play went through the six time Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi might not have had any clear cut chances to score himself but he did set up Barcelona's best chance of the game.

At 1-0 down the 33-year-old swung a cross in for Clement Lenglet in the box. The centre back had lost his marker for a free header but could only direct it straight at Jan Oblak

The Argentina forward has three goals in the league to his name, in eight games, and another three in the Champions League, but Ansu Fati actually leads the goalscoring charts with four in La Liga.

There's no doubt that the club captain isn't at his best right now and neither is the team as a whole, as they continue to struggle in the league.

His decision to leave in the summer, followed by eventual admission that he had to stay till the end of the season, can't have helped with life at the Nou Camp.

Manchester City are still expected to sign the forward next summer when his contract runs out, even though Pep Guardiola has denied that claim.

Until Messi can find his best form or Koeman can work out how to get the best out of the rest of the team without their maestro then things might not get better any time soon for the team.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Lionel Messi, La Liga