Dani Alves is lining up a direct kick from 35 meters in the middle of the pitch. [...]]]> It’s difficult for many of us to watch the midweek European matches. A lot of us work, but if you get a chance, find a highlight of Barcelona’s first goal from yesterday’s 4-1 win over Racing Santander.

Dani Alves is lining up a direct kick from 35 meters in the middle of the pitch. Last season, that ball is going on goal (or into the wall). This season, Barcelona has Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Alves plays the ball to his right. Messi’s alone and puts a ball to the fall post. There, Zlatan Ibrahimovic heads the ball in for the opener.

It’s not only a goal that Barcelona doesn’t score last year (they have nobody besides Gerard Pique who has that height, and Pique does not come up in this situation), it’s a play don’t even attempt.

Samuel Eto’o is a great player, but he’s no Ibrahimovic. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know this isn’t the first time I’ve brought this up. In fact, it’s become a bit of a dead horse.

Unable to resist, I’m sure this will come up again, particularly after incidences like yesterday, where there was an undeniable moment where even the most ardent supporter would have to concede that this Ibrahimovic-acquisition was a good move.

Whether he’s €46 million better than Eto’o, though, I seriously doubt.