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Easy for Barca but will cup win ease tension at Camp Nou?

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

If anyone was expecting the Camp Nou stadium to pass judgment on Wednesday' s decision of President, Josep Maria Bartemeu to bring forward the elections for the presidency by 12 months, will have drawn conclusions during Barca' s comfortable 5-0 home win in the King' s Cup against Elche on Thursday.

It has been a difficult four days for Barca after losing 1-0 away to Real Sociedad on Sunday. Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked in the fallout of that defeat, while the relationship between coach Luis Enrique and Leo Messi has been questioned and the future of both coach and star player thrown into doubt with rumors of a move to England for Messi and the sack for Luis Enrique.

Perhaps it was the 10pm kick off time for a match live on TV, or perhaps the frustration at recent displays, but the Camp Nou had only 27,000 fans in the game. Those who did go to the ground saw Barca' s first choice attack of Messi, Neymar and Suarez on the pitch as Luis Enrique looked to kill the tie off in the first leg and they also made it clear with their chants Messi is the most important man at the club.

Neymar was unlucky not to get a penalty after being fouled by Damien Suarez after 9 minutes and Messi had Barca' s first shot on target a minute later.

Barca controlled the game, but it was not until the 35th minute than Messi, Suarez and Neymar combined for the latter to sidefoot his side ahead.

The goal appeared to wake the fans up with some chanting Luis Enrique' s name, everyone chanting 'Messi' and Suarez responded with Barca' s second goal five minutes from time.

Neymar should have added a third straight afterwards, but shot wide when clean through on goal, although he provoked the penalty which allowed Messi to score Barca' s 3rd of the night.

A Messi pass allowed Jordi Alba to score Barca' s fourth after 56 minutes while Neymar scored his second of the night on the hour.

In short an easy win against a rival who resisted for half an hour in front of a support which made it clear they are behind Messi first and the coach second.

Sunday' s game against Atletico Madrid will be much harder, the ground will be full and the effects will perhaps be longer lasting. Endi