MESTALLA, Valencia — Lionel Messi is a quiet, verging-on-shy man. He does’t like to make a scene. Usually when he speaks on the pitch, he does it with a hand covering his mouth so no lip-readers can work out what he’s saying.
Saturday afternoon was an exception—in many ways. Barcelona’s 3-2 win over Valencia at Mestalla was La Liga's game of the season so far, and it will be no surprise if it still is by the end of the campaign.
Valencia’s brutality in the early stages was startling, with Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta a victim, scissored by Enzo Perez in a challenge that left him with a damaged knee ligament.