Barcelona vs. Almeria: Winners and Losers from Liga Game
Barcelona saw off Almeria comfortably at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, with Luis Suarez notching twice in their 4-0 win.
It temporarily gave them a seven-point lead over Real Madrid, who were yet to kick off their game against Rayo Vallecano.
The Almeria clash was the last chance for Barcelona's players to catch a breath, to the extent that one can in a competitive game, ahead of a packed schedule against top-class opponents.
Sevilla, Paris Saint-Germain, Valencia, PSG again and then Catalan derby rivals Espanyol lie in wait in the weeks ahead.
It was the last chance for some to prove themselves to Luis Enrique before the run-in starts for real.
Here are our five winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Thievy Bifouma
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The former Espanyol forward didn't get on the scoresheet against Barcelona, but he gave Marc Bartra and Javier Mascherano an uncomfortable evening nevertheless.
His team-mates failed to match his speed, wit and invention, and he would be more comfortable at a higher level. However, he has had problems in the past and failed to adapt to the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, so perhaps spending a while at a side like Almeria is a good idea.
On the evidence of this match, he is growing back into himself and can be a thorn in the side of any opponent.
Loser: Marc Bartra
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Marc Bartra was given a rare start, got on the scoresheet and was still a loser?
Unfortunately, this performance will likely confirm for Luis Enrique that the defender isn't yet good enough to hold down a place in his side.
Thievy Bifouma gave him a torrid time, beating him on several occasions. It didn't lead to anything, but this was Almeria. If Sevilla or Valencia did the same, it could prove disastrous.
A misplaced pass when trying to find Dani Alves broke down an attack, with Bartra turning away in frustration.
He has talent, and he may yet become an excellent centre-back. But despite his well-taken goal, he was one of the night's losers here.
Winner: Xavi Hernandez
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It's nice to know that you're wanted. Xavi Hernandez certainly does. The fans sang his name several times, and after the game, Luis Enrique sang his praises in the press conference.
Xavi did nothing out of the ordinary here, but for him, the bar for ordinary is set very high. The midfielder pulled the strings for his side, with a classy, understated display.
It's easy to impress on a night like this, but weak opponents aren't exacerbating Xavi's class. We saw against Celta Vigo at the weekend just how he can influence a game, taking the sting out of it when Barcelona need that. Against Almeria, he showed how he can make things happen in attack, too.
Whether he goes to Qatar or not at the end of the season, Xavi will know wherever he lays his head, he will be loved.
James Willoughby of Goal.com quoted Luis Enrique as saying of Xavi: "He has the affection of all the Catalans and any football lover. He knows it and feels it. I would like him to continue helping us, but I understand he wants other experiences. Whatever he chooses will be good for Barca."
Loser: Pedro
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Pedro always seemed set to play in this match, and that itself is a sign that things are not right for him. He is the reserve, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all ahead of him in the pecking order.
An exit at the end of the season seems likely, he told Al Primer Toque (via Sport), and he showed very little on this occasion to convince Luis Enrique to bump him up the roster.
Pedro didn't have a bad game, per se, but when you are given an opportunity like this, ahead of a string of tough matches, you have to take it. Having been given a nice rest here, Neymar is likely to be restored to the starting lineup for the Sevilla clash on Saturday.
Pedro may only be given a few minutes from the bench in the next few games, in which he may be able to impress potential suitors.
Winner: Juan Carlos Unzue
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Barcelona scored their fifth set-piece goal in five games against Almeria.
Two of these, Jeremy Mathieu's headers against Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, could be hugely important when it comes to deciding the title race.
Marc Bartra's against Almeria may be significantly less of a factor, but still, it goes to show the impact that dead balls are having for Barcelona this season.
The man to thank, as Sport's Albert Masnou pointed out, is Juan Carlos Unzue, Luis Enrique's right-hand-man.
"It is Juan Carlos Unzue who has taken the lead in this specialty, coming off the bench when there is a corner or free kick from a wide position, to organise the team. They have worked on this both in attack and defence and the results are plain to see. This has ceased to be a loophole for more powerful teams to exploit and makes Barcelona a threat when Messi, Neymar or Ivan Rakitic launch balls into the box.
"
When it comes to the end of the season, if Barcelona lift the Liga trophy, Unzue deserves as much praise as anybody.
