BARCELONA FC'S DREAMS WERE SHATTERED
I thought I was done with this season. My last post on sports said it all. There's nothing else to write on sports except the upcoming champion's league finals and world's cup. So I thought.
Who would have known Barcelona FC would turn news?
This team played 36 matches without a single defeat in the league. They played Real Madrid, the best team in the world currently, and they weren't defeated. Tougher opponents like Atletico Madrid, Sevila, Villarreal, couldn't defeat them.
They had just two matches left, and everyone had thought they would make history this year. The other two opponents wouldn't stop them. But, the unexpected happened, Levante ended Barcelona hopes on achieving an unbeaten record.
Sunday night was bloody at Estadi Ciutat de València (Levante's home ground).
Okay, Lionel Messi wasn't on the field
Why?
I believe Ernesto Valverde is in the best place to answer that.
Barcelona players were all in full spirit when the match started. They got the possession and game control. But in the 9th minute, everything changed.
Emmanuel Boateng's strike calmed everyone. It was normal though, any team can score Barcelona first, but the end result is what we need. After this strike, Barcelona was still trying to take possession and equalise. But, No! Boateng wouldn't allow that.
He doubled the lead with another strike at the 30th minute. Semendo had a chance to clear the ball out, but it seems the Ghanian was too strong for him. The barca stars were quick to respond with a goal. Phillipe Coutinho made sure of that. His powerful shot made the keeper wonder.
And that was it at half time. Levante 2 Barcelona 1.
We were hoping on drastic changes, but, Messi wasn't even on the bench. The players on the field can do it, we thought.
The referee hasn't even settled, when Levante's third goal came in. That goal from Enis Bardhi in the 46th minute was lit.
Barcelona needed 2 goals to level up, it's pretty easy for them. But, we were disappointed, Levante scored the 2 goals instead.
Emmanuel Boateng scored his third goal at the 49th minute while Enis Bardhi made the score line 5 goals to 1 at the 56th minute.
You need to see reactions from the fans.
It was terrible.
That would be very embarrassing! But, it was too early to conclude so the match went on.
Coutinho scored at the 59th and 62nd minute to make it 5 goals to 3.
Suarez scored a penalty at the 71st minute to make it 5 - 4.
And that was it, there was no goal from both sides till the game ended.
If I could get a theme for this season's performance, I'll term it "shock".
One happened in the champion's league not too long, now, another shock has surfaced.
The unbeaten they've dreamt of has been broken. I hope they are over it. Building a reputation for years and getting it destroyed in a day can be so painful.
That's football, any thing can happen.
I'll drop my pen here.
Until any shock happens.
This author @afolwalex owns every content here.
All images are screenshots from the match.