FC Barcelona Skill Breakdown 2013 La Liga Week 2

Adriano Correia (#21) had already had such a good first half performance filling the right wingback role usually occupied by Dani Alves that I had commented on that fact aloud before, near the end of the half, he received a pass from Alexis Sanchez on the right wing with such an open lane to the goal I couldn't help but add a red carpet: (I have no idea why the score reads 0-1, but can assure you that it is actually 0-0.)

Instead of trying to push through that lane, his first touch pushes the ball toward the center of the pitch, and Xavi Hernandez (#8), alertly cuts around to the left side of the pitch which is completely vacant. There is also a small but dangerous area in which Cesc Fabregas (#4) could receive a quick flick:

By the time he's ready for his next touch, Adriano's movement has opened more area in front of the near post, which the goalkeeper is forced to protect. Pedro Rodriguez (#7), realizing his current position is inconsequential, has allowed himself to drift offside:

The ambidextrous Adriano strikes the ball with his left instep hard with slice, giving it a clockwise rotation so that, as it slows, it will curl in the direction of the spin: (Anybody who has thrown a frisbee should be familiar with this effect.)

I have painstakingly overlayed over a dozen stills to trace the flight of the ball as it finds the extreme lower corner barely inside the far post and completely out of reach of the goalkeeper. A low line-drive from 25 yards out (easily measured by the 6 yard alternating grass cuts), Iniesta tucks in his arms as it passes him around waist-high. I have also included a ghost-image of where the players are when the ball reaches the goal box:

This exceptional goal ends up being the decisive one, as the second half is destined to be a lackluster affair. ¡Visca el Barca!