Manuel Pellegrini has had better weeks. Just four days after his Real Betis side were put to the sword by Atletico Madrid, Los Verdiblancos dared to stray into Bayer Leverkusen’s den.
After 90 punishing minutes in North Rhine-Westphalia, Betis had been ripped limb from limb by a wounded beast with a taste for blood. The Andalusians returned to Spain with their confidence – if not their Europa League hopes – in tatters.
Leverkusen had a point to prove after failing to win their past five games including a 5-1 battering by Bayern Munich, a home defeat to second-tier Karlsruhe in the cup, and a disappointing draw with rivals Koln.
But, just when under-pressure coach Gerardo Seoane needed it most, reported Liverpool target Moussa Diaby rode to his rescue.
The France international answered Leverkusen’s Bat Signal and produced a superhuman performance on the European stage.
Is Moussa Diaby a realistic target for Liverpool?
In October, Calciomercato reported Diaby was on Liverpool’s radar heading into the January transfer window. His one-man destruction of Real Betis is an indication why.
The former Paris Saint-Germain wonder kid ripped into Pellegrini’s side, dismantling the Betis back line like a toddler in a tantrum smashing a Lego tower.
Not content with opening the scoring via a tidy right-foot volley, Diaby showed he’s equally comfortable on his left, doubling the lead with the help of a deflection.
He wasn’t done there, though. Diaby chipped a wonderful through-ball for Florian Wirtz to add number three before showcasing his searing pace to serve the fourth on a silver platter for a ravenous Nadiem Amiri.
Two goals, two assists. Not bad for a night’s work.
“Diaby’s performance was extraordinary,” Seoane beamed at full time, via L’Equipe.
You can say that again.
You need to be something special to break into Liverpool’s star-studded front line these days and, as Diaby proved last night, he is exactly that.
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