Bale for Madrid and Messi for Barça
So many times we've seen the team that fails to take their chances during a game paying the price for failing to do so. The game at the Sanchez Pizjuan was a case in point on a night where it appeared Barcelona were about to taste their first defeat of the 17/18 season but managed to snatch a dramatic draw with two late goals. It was an excellent game where we saw a lacklustre Barça transform into a different beast with the introduction of Messi. The initial phase of the game saw the Catalan side look vulnerable defensively as Sevilla sprang counter after counter and could have netted six times had their attackers been on song. Montella's side ultimately paid the price for failing to convert their chances letting the win slip as Luis Suárez and Messi bagged the two goals that ensured a point-a-piece.
30 games unbeaten in LaLiga 17/18
Barcelona have now gone 30 games unbeaten in the league this season which is a credit to the work of Ernesto Valverde but it must be said that they looked lost without Messi in Seville. It was also telling to see the impact his substitution made on the game as it rallied the visitors and it also seemed to drive a psychological fear into Sevilla's players. The last 30 minutes of the game was hugely open as the home side looked to retain three points to help propel them into a comfortable European spot as for the visitors, it was a case of trying to defend their unbeaten record with the final being as dramatic as one could expect from a game of football.
Bale for Turin start?
The previous game saw Real Madrid in action against Las Palmas. Zidane rotated the squad with one eye on Tuesday's game in Turin which meant no Cristiano. The absence of the Portuguese striker meant Gareth Bale had an opportunity to shine upfront. He played predominantly on the left hand side as part of a 4-4-2 formation and was full of running, hard work and helping out in defensive tasks by tracking back too. He bagged a fine goal and made a claim for a starting place in the Champions League tie against Juventus. Zidane has plenty to contemplate as he tries to decide which players to select to take to the field at the Allianz Stadium in Turin and Bale's fine performance last night will add to the starting XI dilema faced by the French coach ahead of the quarter final first leg.