Messi inspires Barcelona by to quarter-finals
Lionel Messi scored dual and set adult another for Ousmane Dembélé as Barcelona requisitioned a quarter-final mark in style.
In his initial tour given a birth of his third child, Messi struck a initial blow after usually 127 seconds during a Camp Nou, banishment between Thibaut Courtois’ legs from an unfit angle. The die was cast.
Messi shortly incited provider, teeing adult Dembélé for a former Dortmund striker’s initial idea in a Barcelona shirt. To their credit, Chelsea rose of a board after both blows, and roughly countered when Marcos Alonso’s free-kick struck a post usually before half-time.
It was Messi, night, though, a Argentinian jacket things adult with his devoted left feet mid by a second period, his 100th UEFA Champions League goal.
Key player: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
I remember his initial as if it were yesterday. Half an hour gone, Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona 2-0 adult on Olympiacos and afterwards a left-footed Messi raker. His initial UEFA Champions League goal. They have flowed given though never opposite Chelsea – until now. Like a aged fun about London buses, we wait for one and afterwards 3 come along. Plus an assist. Messi notched his 99th and 100th goals of a foe here. One to mangle a tragedy early on, one to win a tie in a second half. Only a best do that. Graham Hunter
Reporter articulate points
Graham Hunter, Barcelona: Messi shone, Marc-André ter Stegen saved when he had to, Samuel Umtiti put his physique on a line, though it was Ernesto Valverde’s name a throng were chanting. You can see why. It is a 54-year-old who has done this organisation so robust, so competitive. The Basque, too, who chose this as a impulse for Dembélé to come of age and corroborated talent over experience. Credit to a crafty male and acclamation to these fans for recognising his brilliance.
Daniel Thacker, Chelsea: Chelsea were during no indicate outplayed in a tie – they had their chances – though a multiple of a unavoidable Messi goals and greedy finishing put a quick finish to a Blues’ European hopes. How they contingency bewail a disaster to tip Group C forward of Roma. As it is, Antonio Conte’s recurrent hunt for continental success goes on, while Chelsea’s concentration now turns to a domestic quarrel to lapse to Europe’s tip list subsequent term.
Key stats
- Barcelona are by to a UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for a record 11th unbroken season, and 15th debate in all
- Messi reached 100 goals in a UEFA Champions League, usually a second actor to do so after Cristiano Ronaldo
- Barcelona are 25 home matches dominant in a UEFA Champions League (W23 D2), a second longest run ever
- Barcelona are 21 home games dominant in all competitions (W19 D2)
- Barcelona have kept 7 purify sheets in their final 9 UEFA Champions League home matches
- Gerard Piqué, 31, done his 100th coming in UEFA bar competition
- Chelsea have mislaid any of their final 5 divided matches in all competitions
- Messi has scored a record 24 goals in a turn of 16, 4 some-more than Ronaldo