You whip out your Catalan translator for this one.
And you think how they would say it there:
Increïble. Bonic. Esbalaïdor. Meravellós.
Home, at the Camp Nou.
Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
And one of the most Barcelona-esque assists you’ll see.
There's 10 Sevilla players behind the ball, in position, with 3 lines to break, and Arthur picks the one pass that takes them all out of the equation. pic.twitter.com/hR1gk8vxNo
— Sameer (@Sameer_R13) January 30, 2019
In this new era without Iniesta and Xavi, and without Neymar, too…
Barça have needed just one more of those passing-vision-telepathy geniuses, to make the whole thing come to a peak again.
Enter Arthur Melo?
What an intelligent pass from Arthur Melo to break the lines. Rakitic scores but that goal is all Arthur
— El Máestro (@ElMaestrofcb) January 30, 2019
A sudden, lightning-strike pass that you’d see only after it happened—a thread through a hole in the defense that no one in the stadium would’ve picked up on but Arthur, Rakitić, Messi.
The kind of thing Barcelona seems to have lying in wait at all times.
Ok forget about Frenkie De Jong, Arthur Melo is the REAL DEAL, the real future of Barca midfield. What a player.
— Rash Mena (@rash_mena) January 30, 2019
They’re teaching him well, this young Arthur Melo.
22 years old, over from Brazil last year. Little experience on the top stages, club or international.
And with a game like this, an assist like this one, well:
He’s been assimilated.
Barcelona’s latest midfield maestro.
Arthur is pure class. Perfect for barcelona Midfield.
What a find..!— DK (@krishna_leo10) January 30, 2019
Watching the replay, your mind does a phony little bit of simplifying:
Ah, okay, there’s the hole, he threads the pass… goal, assist, done. Got it.
But to see it then?
On the field?
A world-class display of vision, and already that silent connection with Messi that Xavi, Iniesta and Jordi Alba have showcased over the years.
Arthur scanning the pitch moments before playing a through ball to Rakitic. Impossible to say how much of an effect it had, but love to see players do this so late into the decision making process. pic.twitter.com/DX5dwHJuzY
— ty (@finalthrd) January 30, 2019
Just as Arthur takes a touch, looking up for a run from Suárez or Rakitić…
Messi drifts in toward the ball, just a few slight steps.
And with his presence, movement, reputation—he opens up that hole.
Arthur sees it just as it happens, and we’ve got our assist.
Okay, I am buying Barcelona shirt tomorrow with Arthur Melo's name on the back💯 pic.twitter.com/PwibIuwYfQ
— Thabelo (@Thabelo__) January 31, 2019
Tonight was the second leg of the home/away match-up in this Copa del Rey quarterfinal—Barça having lost 2-0 a week ago in Seville, with Lionel Messi resting on the bench.
He was back today.
And the whole team around him, returned to top form.
Doing this:
And this:
Barcelona winning it 6-1.
Just don’t wear white at Camp Nou. pic.twitter.com/ZvzBKAmQox
— Barça Pictures #14 (@Barca__pictures) January 30, 2019
On to the semis.