Estudiantes Pay Heavy Price as Lionel Messi Seals Club World Cup for Barcelona

FC Barcelona’s coronation as FIFA Club World Cup champions is a just reward for a team that continually asked questions of Estudiantes’ defence, despite being a goal down for the majority of the final.

Whilst Lionel Messi’s extra time winner brought about Barcelona’s victory,  it was Pedro’s equaliser 90 seconds from full-time which effectively broke Estudiantes’ resolve in a match they really should have attacked more in.

Indeed all signs were positive for the Copa Libertadores champions early on, as Estudiantes showcased their credentials with possession.

Led well by captain Juan Sebastian Veron, Estudiantes applied great pressure to a Barcelona midfield which struggled to make any dent to a well-marshaled defence.

Pep Guardiola’s men seemed uncomfortable with possession during the early stages of the first half, as Estudiantes midfielders Veron, Benetiz, and Brana pressured the La Liga giants into uncharacteristic mistakes.

Key Barcelona figures Xavi, Messi, and Ibrahimovic hardly had the time and space to produce the football necessary to worry an Estudiantes team which was starting to frustrate the La Liga giants.

Indeed Estudiantes found themselves firmly in control against the European champions and pressed home the advantage after forward Boselli headed home a wonderful Diaz cross to give the Argentine club the lead.

Unfortunately for Sabella’s men, Boselli’s goal did little to put Estudiantes in an attacking frame of mind in a match which was now there for the taking.

The Copa Libertadores champions instead opted to defend their slender advantage for the remainder of the final—a decision which handed Barcelona the licence to finally dominate.

The increased involvement of Barcelona forwards Henry and Ibrahimovic was evident immediately, as Estudiantes struggled to cope with the speed and power of the Frenchman and Swedish striker respectively.

The inclusion of Barcelona midfielder Pedro into the contest was the key point in allowing Barcelona to dominate the second half and cast Estudiantes’ game into disarray.

After a mountain of opportunities went begging for the La Liga giants, it was Pedro who headed home Barcelona’s equaliser in a game where Estudiantes literally handed over the initiative to their opponents.

Pedro’s goal proved to be the decisive blow for Estudiantes, as Barcelona discovered a second wind which eventually saw Ballon D’Or winner Messi score the winner during the second half of extra time.

The result was a testament to Barcelona’s ability to constantly seek goals, regardless of whether their leading on the scoreboard or not.

Estudiantes, on the other hand, were merely content with containing a side which has made a habit of scoring goals at decisive moments in matches.

One only has to go back as far as last season’s Champions League semi-final against Chelsea to see that Barcelona are well adept to winning matches at the last minute.

The Copa Libertadores champions should have known better than to rest on a one goal lead against a club with arguably some of the world’s finest footballers at their disposal.

While Estudiantes should be proud of their overall showing against Barcelona, an offensive mindset needs to be adopted in the future if the South Americans are to go one better at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Just ask FC Barcelona.