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
Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday. The hosts, looking for a second successive
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
sportstons.com/soccer/football-fulham-dig-deep-to-deny-newcastle-and-earn-first-clean-sheet/
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet LONDON (REUTERS) - Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday (Dec 22).
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
Unai Emery has revealed Mesut Ozil will return to the Arsenal squad for Saturday's Premier League visit of Burnley and believes he has a future at the Emirates Stadium.
Returning Ozil has Arsenal future says Emery - sports.yahoo.com
Will it become a launching pad for a new era of glory? keep spending and seize opportunity to usher in new era of glory Mayor reigning triumphant after the team defeated Tottenham Hotspur.
Can Tottenham Hotspur's New Stadium Deliver Success?
LONDON (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) - Manchester United's hopes of Champions League football next season were ended after an embarrassing 1-1 draw at already relegated Huddersfield on Sunday (May 5)..
Man Utd miss out on top four after draw at Huddersfield - 3news
LAUSANNE (AFP) - Fifa president Gianni Infantino is set to serve a second term after world football's governing body said on Wednesday (Feb 6) that he would be the only candidate for June's vote..
Incumbent Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in
Spain's Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring their first goal during the match Euro 2020 Qualifier Group F between Spain vs Sweden at Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain, June 10, 2019. Spain made it four wins out of four and took full control of their Euro 2020 qualifying group by seeing off closest challengers Sweden 3-0 at home.
Spain beat Sweden, take charge in qualifying quest
Football: United confirm huge Mourinho payoff; 'Class of 92
Hougang United Football Club, one of nine clubs in the professional football league, has filed a police report against an employee after losing S$278,200 from its coffers. ADVERTISING A female administrative staff member, Tean Tai Tee, allegedly misappropriated the sales revenue from the clubhouse between Nov 29 and Dec 11 last year.
tiagong, this female employee hoot Hong Gan United Football
Football: West Ham's Michail Antonio scores winner as Spurs suffers first loss at new stadium Michail Antonio fired West Ham to a surprise 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Tottenham vs West Ham result, Premier League 2019 report
SHANGHAI (AFP) - Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday (March 15), spearheading the ambitious country's attempts to become a footballing force.. Read
Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China | Sport24
A fourth straight league loss for Huddersfield's new manager Jan Siewert left the Terriers stranded six points behind Fulham and 14 adrift of 17th-placed Cardiff City as Newcastle, with a third straight home win under Rafa Benitez, moved up to 14th. Almiron, making his first start for Newcastle after his club record 20 million-pound ($26.1
VIDEO Newcastle United 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Premier League
A year after Mo Salah's Champions League final heartbreak, he steps up to blast them ahead after just two minutes. Salah and Origi fire Liverpool to sixth Champions League final crown as Spurs
Dec 17, 2018 · Australia sense victory in second Test after brutal day in Perth This article is more than 4 months old. Australia captain Tim Paine has sledging spat with Kohli at second Test.
Aussies power to Perth Test victory | cricket.com.au
0 comments:
Post a Comment