FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.03.2010 12:41

One year on from Pinto’s penalty

Edgar Fornós

The penalty saved by Pinto in Mallorca was one of the turning points of last season. Could Messi’s goal against Malaga be another important moment in the race for a championship title?

Thursday March 4 marks a year since Pinto saved a penalty from Mallorca’s Pep Lluís Martí in the semi finals of the Copa del Rey. Barça went to the Ono Estadi on the back of four winless games and their confidence was waning. Barça were losing 1-0 and were down to ten men. Had that penalty gone in, Barça wouid have had a mountain to climb to reach the final in Mestalla. But Pinto saved it, and the rest is history.

Messi’s goal

A year later, and FC Barcelona have just beaten Malaga with first place in the table at stake. With just a few minutes to go, Messi stepped up to score a late winner after a stuttering February in which the side’s unbeaten record was surrendered and FCB’s football lost some of its magic. That win may be the tonic to get Barça back on top of their game.

Magic moments

Moments like Pinto's save in the islands to keep the cup dream alive, and Messi’s goal at the Camp Nou to ensure Real Madrid didn’t take over at the top of the league, are the kind of things that can have a positive effect on any side. Had Barça not won in Mallorca, then they would never have been able to claim to be the first side to win the Copa del Rey, Liga and Champions League in the same season.