La Liga – Matchday 17Date: January 22, 2005Fixture: FC Barcelona vs. Athletic BilbaoVenue: Camp Nou, BarcelonaWeather: Overcast, 9°CKickoff: 9:00 PM
The locker room before the match was quiet — but not tense. The team had built momentum. Messi, especially, was becoming a dependable gear in Barcelona's engine.
But this match wasn't just about style. It was against Bilbao — a team that played like a hammer. Hard tackles. Aggressive pressing. Fierce aerial battles.
Rijkaard's message was clear:
"They'll press high. They'll kick hard. So keep the ball on the ground. And Leo—be ready. They'll come for your ankles."
Messi smiled calmly, strapping on his shin pads.
"Then I'll move faster."
New Training Focus: Free Kicks
In the days before the match, Messi had begun a new routine after training sessions. With the help of assistant coach Henk ten Cate and Ronaldinho's encouragement, he began staying back to work on free kicks.
He started simple:
Stationed 20–22 yards out
Five balls in a row
Target zones: top left, top right
30–40 minutes of repetition every evening
Ronaldinho, watching one session, had offered a single piece of advice:
"Don't kick hard. Kick smart. Talk to the ball."
Messi had smiled. Then curled one perfectly into the top left corner.
"It listened," he said quietly.
Kickoff
From the first whistle, it was chaos.
Bilbao pressed with intensity, forcing Valdés into early clearances. Barcelona struggled to find rhythm. Ronaldinho was shadowed tightly. Xavi was pushed out wide.
That left space between the lines.
Messi dropped deeper to receive the ball — and that's where he changed the game.
In the 17th minute, he controlled a pass from Deco and spun away from a defender in one smooth motion. His burst forward drew two more — and just before contact, he slipped the ball left to Iniesta.
Iniesta to Eto'o.Finish.GOAL. 1–0. Assist: Messi.
Bilbao answered ten minutes later with a powerful header from a corner.1–1.
Rijkaard yelled from the touchline:
"Calm! Keep the shape!"
Barcelona did.
In the 39th minute, Messi received the ball on the right flank. He slowed… watched the full-back bite. Then accelerated sharply, skipping past him. In the box now, he looked up and saw Ronaldinho.
A low, driven cross.
One touch.
GOAL. 2–1. Assist: Messi.
Second Half: Physical Warfare
Bilbao weren't backing down. They kicked, pulled, shoved — but Messi never reacted. He just got up, again and again.
In the 61st minute, he won a free kick 25 yards out after being dragged down near the edge of the box.Ronaldinho offered the ball to him.
"Try it."
Messi stepped up.Three steps. A breath. The ball curled beautifully…But rattled off the post.
Close.
But not yet.
In the 74th minute, Ronaldinho returned the favor.
He found Messi making a diagonal run between center backs. A soft chip, a perfect trap, and a low shot to the far corner.
GOAL. 3–1.
The stadium roared.Messi ran to the corner flag, smiling, pointing once toward the crowd — then turned and hugged Ronaldinho tight.
"We're not teammates," Ronnie said with a grin."We're brothers now."
Final Score: Barcelona 3–1 Athletic BilbaoMatch Stats – Lionel Messi
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Key passes: 5
Dribbles completed: 7
Fouls suffered: 4
Free kicks taken: 1 (off post)
Post-Match Interview
Reporter: "Leo, another three goal contributions. You're now sitting on double-digit assists for the season. How does that feel?"
Messi:(soft smile)
"It feels good to help. That's the job — not just scoring, but connecting the team."
Reporter: "You almost scored from a free kick. Been practicing?"
Messi:
"A little. I have good teachers."
Reporter: "You're the most fouled player in La Liga now. Thoughts?"
Messi:(shrugs)
"If they're fouling, it means I'm doing something right. I just get up and play."
Notebook Entry – January 22, 2005
Anto,I hit the post today from a free kick. So close. But it felt right.I've started practicing them. Quietly. Slowly. Ronnie says I'll find my own curve.They kicked me hard today. But I stayed calm. I didn't snap. Just passed, moved, passed again.Two assists. One goal. But the best part? Ronnie called me his brother.That means more than any stat.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Season Stats (as of Matchday 17)
Appearances: 22
Goals: 11
Assists: 10
Free Kicks Taken: 2 (0 goals, 1 off woodwork)
Yellow Cards: 0
Times Fouled: 47
Disciplinary: Always respectful, no protests, no insults