Have we ever seen an 18-year-old Spaniard play like Pedri?

Pedri gets past Míchel LaLiga

Finally, Barcelona had a quiet night on the road, picking up a comfortable victory at Real Valladolid. That in itself is news, although it really shouldn’t be.

Ronald Koeman changed things up a bit, and the Catalans played with a directness and speed that they’ve often lacked, led by Lionel Messi and Pedri.

Pedri was frighteningly good again, and Messi knows just how talented he is. Antoine Griezmann, meanwhile, travelled just to sit on the bench in the cold.

He’s of legal age now and won’t have to leave the Camp Nou in a taxi anymore. Pedri, despite his years, has already come of age.

There’s nobody else in the Barcelona squad who understands Messi better than Pedri, which says a lot. To speak Messi’s language you have to be very good indeed, and he is.

He has a world to go before he can be compared to Barcelona’s greats, but his backheeled assist to Messi is already going around the world, and if the European Championship was in January, Luis Enrique would have a tough time leaving him out.

Messi was more Messi than he has been this season. But scoring is still more difficult than it has ever been before.

He got there in the end, but before and after his goal he had chances that he could have scored.

Barcelona arrived in Zorrilla filled with dread. Twenty-two years ago, Louis van Gaal went there under pressure and won 1-0 with a Xavi goal, which saved his position, changed their fortunes and they went on to win the title.

Now, Ronald Koeman isn’t in danger. But if there were fans in the stadiums and no elections, things might be different.

Miralem Pjanic played his best game for the club on Tuesday.

The Bosnian was surrounded by his teammates, had support from Frenkie de Jong and a passing option in Pedri at all times.

The fans want him to play more, and he showed at Valladolid that he is good enough.

Koeman went with three centre-backs and it worked. Barcelona were comfortable, reliable and even had some rhythm.

Philippe Coutinho, Sergio Busquets and Antoine Griezmann were the big losers.