BARCELONA • Barcelona star Lionel Messi was showered with praise by both his coach Ernesto Valverde and losing manager Bruno Genesio, after a headline performance in his side's 5-1 second-leg win over Lyon to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
The forward opened the scoring at the Nou Camp on Wednesday with an audacious penalty and restored control in the tie after Lyon had pulled a goal back to make it 2-1, hitting a decisive third goal after a trademark dazzling run to shake off four defenders.
The Argentinian, who at the start of the season promised to "do everything to bring that beautiful trophy back to the Nou Camp", tore through Lyon's backline twice more to tee up further goals for Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele.
"We are all psyched up for the Champions League and so is Leo. He produced an outstanding performance tonight, he was incredible," Valverde told reporters.
Lyon coach Genesio added: "Tonight Messi was in Champions League mode. He's a genius and can do things that nobody else can. Sometimes he is just unstoppable."
A 0-0 draw in France in the first leg last month meant Lyon always had a chance to make Barca nervous, but Messi's sumptuously chipped penalty and a simple finish from Philippe Coutinho looked to have finished the visitors off before half-time.
Yet Lucas Tousart's volley left Lyon one goal away from putting Barcelona out, only for Messi to take charge again with the third goal and his two assists.
"We went out to take the game to them from the very start, we moved the ball quickly and we were at our very best," Messi said.
He had seen his record of eight hat-tricks in the Champions League equalled by Cristiano Ronaldo a day earlier in Juventus' 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
12
Consecutive years Barcelona have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, a record.
Messi has not hoisted the Champions League trophy since 2015, while Ronaldo has won it four times in the last five seasons with Real and has staked his claim to win it again with Juventus.
On the scoring charts, Messi now has 108 goals in Europe's elite club competition, behind Ronaldo's imperious 124.
"What Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus did was unbelievable. I thought Atletico would be stronger, but Juve walked all over them and Cristiano had a magical night," he added. "But every team left is difficult, so let's see who we get next."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Shadow playing: Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan warms up in Manchester on Tuesday. Manchester City will play a pre-season match in Japan for the first time when they take on J League side Yokohama F. Marinos on July 27, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday.
Manchester City to play pre-season game in Japan for the
Belgium top FIFA rankings but England on the rise Belgium hold on to top spot in the latest FIFA world football rankings released Thursday while England are on the rise, snatching fourth place from World Cup finalists Croatia.
England National Team - World Football
Liverpool Fans Rejoice After Stunning Brentford Bristol City Derby County Hull City Ipswich Town not missed by the fans of his club side. The Reds faithful to took to twitter to express
Red Sox fans have a day to rejoice and - The Boston Globe
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury. On December 12, 2018 7:23 pm In Sports by Idowu Bankole Comments. Liverpool defender Joel Matip will be out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury | Sport24
Tigers riding high headed into 'must win' game. JSU has improved its postseason prospects with back-to-back wins, but has more work to do.
Official Detroit Tigers Website | MLB.com
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has said he plans to offer Lionel Messi a new contract in the hope the Argentinian will stay at the club his whole career. Messi's current deal runs until 2021
Want Messi To Always Be At Barca - Barcelona President Opens
If Gabriel does face an extended spell on the sidelines, Wenger could head into next Sunday's season opener with Liverpool with just new man Rob Holding and Calum Chambers available at centre-back. Arsenal could yet sign a new player to plug the gap in time for the Premier League curtain-raiser or rush Koscielny back earlier than expected.
Koscielny | Up The Arsenal
man city to get points deduction, cl ban & transfer ban? | football leaks allegations analysis
Manchester City could face a Uefa ban from Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo will be kept away from a tournament in America amid fears he will be detained in a rape probe. Ronaldo, who plays for Italian giants Juventus, says the sex was consensual.
Football: Pochettino loses his cool as Spurs slump, Huddersfield closer to relegation. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino remonstrates with referee Mike Dean after the match.
Pochettino Loses His Cool as Spurs Slump, Huddersfield Closer
Serie A: Napoli draw puts Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus coronation on hold Description: Juventus now have a 20-point advantage on Napoli with seven games to play. A draw next week at lowly SPAL would be enough to win the title, still in record time with six games to spare.
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold - sports.yahoo.com
I think the issue with VAR is simply how we perceive what the rules are. The reason so many of us 'disagree' with many of the calls made is because we just don't know the way the law is worded. The team of refs in the VAR room constantly talk to the referee as he makes calls on the pitch.
442oons - YouTube
LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Premier League title race is something to get excited about rather than stressed about despite seeing his side overhauled by Manchester
Klopp excited by Premier League title fight - sportskeeda.com
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen