Leo Messi + Dani Alves = Futbol.

I don’t want to get into the question of why Leo Messi performs like a god for Barcelona, and merely like a taleneted footballer for Argentina. I’m sure the reasons are muiltiple, and I’m sure they keep Diego Maradona up at night. But one of those reasons has to be Dani Alves. Or at least Messi’s partnership with Dani Alves down Barcelona’s right flank.

For the uninitiated, Leo Messi plays on the right flank of Barcelona’s attacking trident, while Dani Alves plays behind him at right back. When the two link-up going forward, the following YouTube clip from Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Deportivo de La Coruña yesterday is the sort of thing that happens:

OK, so it didn’t result in a goal. But those three quick passes (four if you cont the throw-in), and the way the Deportivo defenders were utterly powerless to resist (and seemingly stunned for a couple of seconds) is precisely the reason we’re all in love with Barcelona right now.

And before anyone comments to say “enough with the Barcelona hyperbole already”… allow me to say that we’ll stop posting clips like this as soon as this team stops putting together moves like this. Because they will one day, but I plan to enjoy the magic while it lasts.

- More at Barcelona Offside.

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Category: Spain La Liga, World Football