For all their faults, UEFA got it right last week. Lionel Messi erased any doubt - and there were a record minimal amount of doubters - of the worthiness of his Ballon d'Or award with some clinical finishing against Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday night.

The Argentinian made a nifty turn just outside the box to break the deadlock, and proved to be the difference in the difficult away game. Big teams normally have a torrid time in Galicia, but Barça definitely looked good for the win. With 69% of possesion in the first half, the Catalan's dominance was almost enough to convince that Depor were sitting back on purpose.

However, nobody plays so much behind the ball and defends against Messi and Ibrahimovic without expecting to pay sooner or later. Like a drunk returning from a night out and trying to open his door, Barça kept on knocking, then hit the key against the handle a couple of times, before finally finding the lock in a moment of clarity. Once again the defence was tight, although Depor made the most of their first shot on goal to equalise.

Ibra was back on the scoresheet, continuing his outstanding debut season in Spain, as Barcelona fly high in La Liga. After an aborted first flight to La Coruña on Friday and a nervous second journey, this is one altitude in which the boys from Barça feel most comfortable.

This week sees the final game of the Champions League group stage, with Messi and co. favourites to go through as group leaders. It's a tricky test in Eastern Europe, but momentum will almost certainly see them through. And if Ibra can do the business on the European stage, then what's to say that he won't be the man to knock his teammate from his spot as the 'World's Best Player'?