Statement Games: Barca Roll Six; Zenit Go Two Better.

Two clubs who put up vastly different performances and perhaps equally undeserved results in the Champions League walked out of their domestic fixtures with “Well whaddya think of us now?” plastered all over their faces this weekend.

Barca were a large disappointment in Ukraine for about 87 minutes until Leo Messi & karma took over; though Shakhtar dominated much of the game, Barca managed the points. Well Barca came out guns ablazin’ against Atletico, scoring three in the first 8 and sticking a fork in Atletico by the 30th with a 5-1 lead and Javier Aguirre looking for the fast forward button. A fantastic Titi Henry goal in the second half to finish them off at 6-1, allowing the Catalan boys to puff out their chests and watch as the detractors retreated.

Contrarily, Zenit put on a show against Real up north during Matchday 2, but just could not make the ball bounce into the back of the net. They deserved a point, likely three, and went into the weekend starving for that finishing touch and damn did they get it. Eight goals against Luch-Energiya Vladivostok to prove that they do in fact own a few pairs of finishing booties. Statement? I’d say so.

Two thumpings from two very good squads, but also two horrible performances from the opposition. A bit more forgivable for Vladivostok than Atletico, however, for two reasons:

i. They suck.
ii. They officially have the worst commute ever.

Zenit has some serious work to do to get through to the groups, and even more to do if they want to take part in next year’s CL, but if you didn’t think they’re just a very good team who would turn it around, shame on you. Ditto for Barca. More proof it’s never a good idea to rattle the cages of the big boys.

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Category: World Football