La Liga – Matchday 15Date: December 22, 2004Fixture: FC Barcelona vs. Real BetisVenue: Camp Nou, BarcelonaKickoff: 10:00 PMWeather: Cold winds, 6°CLa Liga Standings Before the Match:
Barcelona – 39 pts – 13W / 0L / 3D
Real Madrid – 36 pts – 11W / 2L / 3D
Valencia – 33 pts – 10W / 3L / 3D
Villarreal – 30 pts – 9W / 3L / 3D
Real Betis – 27 pts – 8W / 4L / 3D
Winter Air, Heavy Pressure
Despite their position, Real Betis were no pushovers. Fast on the wings, compact in defense, and lethal on the counter. And they came to Camp Nou with nothing to lose — just the hope of catching the unbeaten giants on a cold night.
Messi zipped his jacket to his neck as he stepped onto the pitch for warm-up. The chill wasn't in his bones.
It was in the urgency around him.
"Win this," Rijkaard had said, "and we go into the break top of the table."
Simple. Direct.But in football, simple is never easy.
The Game Begins
Betis played tight. Their midfield, led by Assunção, cut passing lanes early. Joaquín, on the right, was dangerous every time he touched the ball.
Barcelona were cautious.
Messi started wide but quickly began drifting inward. He knew this rhythm now: pull defenders, find chaos.
In the 18th minute, he dropped deep, received from Xavi, turned swiftly, and slid a sharp ball through two defenders toward Eto'o.
Eto'o ran on, but the keeper rushed out and smothered the chance.
Close. But not close enough.
First Blow: Betis Counter
In the 26th minute, a misplaced Deco pass led to disaster.
Joaquín sprinted down the wing, cut inside Puyol, and fed Oliveira, who didn't hesitate.
Shot. Bottom corner.GOAL. 0–1. Real Betis.
Camp Nou fell silent. The unbeaten streak now hung in the balance.
The Messi Engine
He didn't panic.
Messi began asking for the ball more, not less. Dropping into tight spaces. Absorbing contact. Turning when no one expected him to.
In the 34th minute, he picked up the ball in midfield and turned sharply between two defenders. One grabbed his shirt. Another clipped his ankle.
He kept going.
Passed it to Deco. Ran into space.
Received it again.
Faked left, darted right —Laid it off to Ronaldinho.
Cross into the box.Eto'o. Header.
GOAL. 1–1.
The crowd roared. The team surrounded Ronaldinho and Eto'o.
But they all glanced once — toward Leo.He had started it.
Halftime Tension
In the dressing room, Rijkaard's voice was calm.
"They'll hit us again if we lose control. Keep possession. Move together. Leo, keep pulling them in. The gaps will open."
Messi nodded. Silently. Determined.
Second Half – Chipping at the Ice
Betis came back more defensive. They sat deep. Waited for mistakes.
Barcelona knocked and knocked.
Messi nearly broke through in the 61st minute — a one-two with Ronaldinho, a sprint, a toe-poke past the last man… but the ball just rolled too far.
In the 69th minute, Iniesta slipped him a short pass inside the box. Messi dropped his shoulder, cut past one defender, then another.
Tight angle. No time.
He chipped it softly over the onrushing keeper.
The ball floated…
Off the crossbar.
Groans filled the stadium.
The Final Push
Time ticked. 80 minutes. 85. Still 1–1.
Then came the moment.
In the 88th minute, Xavi found Messi wide right. He was tired — but focused.
He trapped it.
Carlos came rushing. Messi flicked it past him with one touch, then sprinted.
A Betis midfielder slid in. Messi skipped over the tackle.
Now near the box, he faked a cross — and cut inside.
With his weaker right foot, he curled it low to the far post.
GOAL. 2–1. Barcelona.
Camp Nou exploded.
Rijkaard raised a fist. Ronaldinho screamed. Eto'o tackled him in celebration.
And Messi —He kissed his wrist. Looked to the stars. Thought of Rosario.
Full-Time Whistle
Barcelona went into the winter break unbeaten. Messi walked off the field, breath rising in clouds, eyes locked ahead.
He had done it. Again.
But more than that —He had learned something new.
In tough games, when the body is heavy and time runs out — you don't need magic.You need resolve.
Notebook Entry – December 22, 2004
Anto,This wasn't a game of glory. It was a game of grit.I didn't play my best. But I didn't stop. Even when the ball didn't bounce my way.It's not always about beauty. Sometimes it's about surviving.And today, we did.— Leo
La Liga Standings – Winter Break (Matchday 15):
Barcelona – 42 pts – 14W / 0L / 3D
Real Madrid – 39 pts – 12W / 2L / 3D
Valencia – 36 pts – 11W / 3L / 3D
Villarreal – 33 pts – 10W / 3L / 3D