Lionel Messi is on a roll

An interesting article on Lionel Messi....

Messi scored again. Since sitting out the game at the Anoeta stadium, the Argentine has hit the spot six times. He has played in four games on the bounce and has scored in every one of them. The only game he has not taken part in of late was the second leg Cup match against Elche, with victory already in the bag. The Barça forward scored again this Wednesday, although he lacked the fluidity he had shown in previous games. Without doubt, he was nowhere near as spectacular as in the league game against 'Los Rojiblancos', when he put in one of his best performances so far this season.

In the Cup game, Cholo's boys had sealed off any possible avenue of attack down the wings and laid out a solid defence. The Argentine had no room for manoeuvre. In the penalty, he also proved to be less deadly than usual.

Oblak read the player well and in the last moment managed to get his right hand to the ball. Messi, alert, followed through and was able to put the ball past the keeper, now on his back. This goal and a free kick that scraped the crossbar was all he managed to pull off in the game.

The Argentine was also lucky not to get booked. In a late tackle on Miranda the Argentine tread on the Atlético player's foot hard. Referee González González didn't even whistle a foul, even though it was plain to see.

Most of the game saw Messi running into the area from the right, but Atlético were well organised and managed to close down well, denying the three Barça forwards space to make their moves in.

Culled from MARCA.com (English version)