KEY POINTS

  • Lionel Messi continues to show how he's one of the best players the sport 
  • Amidst this big night, Barcelona's rumored internal turmoil remains a hot topic
  • Barcelona is currently at second place in the La Liga team standings

There’s no question Lionel Messi has been the staple figure for the historic organization of FC Barcelona. The legendary player has finally attained the 700th goal milestone in their recent bout against Atletico Madrid amidst the internal turmoil of the team. The recent stretch in the La Liga season arose numerous speculations from the star player and the coaching staff.

Rumors have spread that Quique Setien’s assistant Eder Sarabia and Messi haven’t been in agreement as of late. The roster of Barcelona is considered deep with a mix of veterans and once-in-generation-type players but even the caliber of a club like Barca is not immune from conflicts in their locker rooms.

These reports have been one of the hottest topics as of late and it comes at the same time as Messi’s historic night. The recent 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid spoiled what could have been a big night for the multiple time Ballon d’Or winner.

Several key points were highlighted in the stalemate including how the body language of Barca’s players raised concerns from their fans. Per Goal.com’s Mark Doyle, he wrote how Barcelona’s energy differed from their opponents.

“Barca's players were all spread out across Quique Setien's technical area, as if respecting social-distancing rules, while their Atletico counterparts were huddled attentively around coach Diego Simeone,” Doyle wrote.

The latest predicament in the La Liga season has Barcelona in second place in the team standings. Ever since the games resumed, Real Madrid was able to take over and dominate their opponents. This puts Zinedine Zidane’s team ahead in first place with 71 points in the rankings. It remains as a close fight as Barca is behind with 70 points with a record of 21 wins, seven draws and five losses.

It will be interesting to see how Barcelona moves forward in the coming few games given how tense it has been at La Liga. With Messi still on top of his game, it will be crucial for the club to gain momentum at the right time during these pivotal moments of the year.

Lionel Messi's 700th career goal was not enough for Barca as they drew with Atletico
Lionel Messi's 700th career goal was not enough for Barca as they drew with Atletico AFP / LLUIS GENE