Thomas Vermaelen's dramatic late goals lifts Barcelona to victory

Watch and learn, Lionel Messi.

Just when it looked like Barcelona would be held off the score sheet against Malaga,Thomas Vermaelen played hero and broke the visitor's hearts with an emphatic goal.

That's right. Thomas. Vermaelen.

The Belgian defender was the unlikely hero Saturday when his close-range volley smacked the back of the net to break the stalemate following 72 minutes of scoreless football.

Even though Barcelona dominated the chances, the Albicelestes will feel hard-done-by after putting on a phenomenal defensive display. Malaga continuously frustrated Barca all evening with a well-organized defensive scheme and an ability to thwart effort after effort.

Malaga, however, should consider itself lucky after a pair of decisions from the referee before halftime denied Barca an opportunity to open the scoring.

Two shouts for a penalty in the Malaga area were harshly denied as the match official failed to see a clear-cut handball when Neymar, who was making his season debut after a bout with the mumps, executed a clever cut-back. Moments laterm Luis Suarez looked to have been brought down in the box, but his cries for a penalty were swiftly rejected.

On the other end of the pitch, Malaga almost shocked the hosts when a fizzing cross into the box was gobbled up by Claudio Bravo before the ball could meet a surging Malaga attacker.

The game really opened up in the second frame, with both sides creating quality chances, but Barcelona, predictably, came away with three points to continue its perfect start to the season.