Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino insisted that he believes Lionel Messi's goal drought is a coincidence after the Argentine failed to net for the fourth consecutive league game in Barca's 1-0 win over Espanyol on Friday.
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It is the first time since April 2011 that Messi has gone four games without scoring in La Liga and he appeared on the fringes of the game throughout as Barca struggled to breakdown their city rivals at the Camp Nou.
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"I continue to think the same about him," Martino said after the game.
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"It is difficult to do an individual analysis of a player in every single game, but Leo continues to be the most important player in a team replete with important figures.
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"His manner of playing still offers us a huge amount and if the team continues to win you will see the best of our best players shortly."
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Despite the victory that moves Barca, temporarily at least, four points clear of Atletico Madrid and nine ahead of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, Messi cut a forlorn figure at the end of the match.