By Abayomi Kalejaye
Smiles. Delirium. Jubilation. Above all- relief. These were the compendium of emotions that characterized Barca's La Liga triumph against Granada.
Luis Enrique's pensive disposition revealed the burdensome state of a man desperate to put a definitive closure on a La Liga campaign that had threatened to be recklessly forfeited. Indeed, it never should have been. For a fact, their status as champions had being conceded by all and sundry. Except Barca.
A surprisingly desultory run of form from the Clasico sucker-punch to the Champions league loss to Atletico had threatened to devolve their season into a cataclysmic implosion. Barring a brief blip after Messi's injury early in the season, Barcelona had been a picture of consistency. Their incredible 39-game unbeaten run in all competitions presaged doom and gloom for opponents. Talk of a back-to-back treble resonated emphatically amongst supporters and observers alike; until they hit that purple patch - commonly known as 'Hleburary' amongst Culers - in April. In point of fact, it could be said that Barcelona were the inadvertent architect of their misfortune.
In what could be considered a demandingly onerous fixture run consisting Villarreal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Valencia; a prudent rotational plan should have been adopted to forestall the apparent lethargy that greeted their uncustomarily lackluster performance during that period. Having being a constant menace to opposition, Neymar's considerable drop off in form proved crucial and damaging in a vital and brutal run of fixtures. The Brazilian, along with Suarez, led Barca successfully during Messi's hiatus - thus banishing effectively the addiction called 'Messidependencia'.
Further, the very fact that the MSN trio never get substituted was a boomerang waiting to happen. And in those high-octane games, it showed in their limited coordination, combination and precision. In truth, it could be argued that any player replacing the star-studded trio was always going to be a considerable step down in quality. Yet, a better recruitment plan could and should have seen Barca bring in decently capable succedaneum to relieve the trio especially in matches against seemingly weaker oppositions and matches already rendered cut and dried. Then again, it must be patently highlighted that Enrique's indulgence of the otherworldly trio - who are, more often than not, diametrically averse to getting substituted - meant his jaded forward line weren't operating optimally in those games.
It wasn't until Barca's fixture list was eventually trimmed down to one game per week did the forward line had any form of reprieve to recuperate. In the last five games of the season, Barcelona racked up 24 goals with none conceded - including an 8-0 shellacking of Deportivo La Coruna. For a team that had allowed both Madrid clubs back into title contention, especially Real whose good form experienced a remarkable tidal wave, they were inevitably condemned to fix the mess they themselves created. Any other outcome aside the Liga title would have been deemed a monumental failure for the ever demanding Catalans, Copa Del Rey triumph notwithstanding.
Significantly likewise, Suarez's stupendous 40 La Liga goals represented a welcome paradigm shift across the board. Having prevailed in his personal duel with Ronaldo for the Pichichi (Top goal-scorer trophy) - the highlight of which was a back-to-back 4 goals heroics against Deportivo and Sporting Gijon- Suarez finally broke the 6-years top goal-scorer hegemony between Messi and Ronaldo in Spain's topflight. Barring a Real Madrid victory in the Champions League, Suarez surely must be the favourite for the next Balon D'or ahead of Ronaldo and Messi.
Even more advantageous was the relief from the goal-scoring burden on Messi, who up until now, had been the burden-bearer. With 59 goals and 19 assists in all competition, Barcelona have found the right panacea, goal-wise at least, to 'Messidependencia'.
With a Copa Del Rey final against Sevilla being the last game of the season, Barcelona can take huge comfort in knowing they have the opportunity to end the season on a high note as opposed to the self-destruct route they were heading towards in that murky period in April.
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