Barcelona defied an outgoing off-field crisis as another Lionel Messi-inspired display exacted revenge on Juventus to open their Champions League campaign with a resounding 3-0 win on Tuesday.
Messi was involved in all three goals as he beat Gianluigi Buffon for the first time in his career to open the floodgates just before half-time.
Ivan Rakitic added a second after Messi’s run and cross opened up the Juventus defence before the Argentine rounded off the scoring by drilling home his second of the evening 19 minutes from time.
Below are the ratings from the game.
Ter Stegen – 8
Semedo – 7.5
Pique – 6
Umtiti – 7
Alba – 7
Rakitic – 7
Busquets – 7
Iniesta – 8
Dembele – 5
Suarez – 5
Messi – 9
Buffon – 6
De Sciglio – 5
Barzagli – 6
Benatia – 6
Alex Sandro – 6
Bentancur – 5
Pjanic – 7
Matuidi – 6
Douglas Costa – 7
Higuain – 5
Dybala – 6
Two evenly matched teams delivered a well contested game, but one of those teams contained Lionel Messi and therefore ending up winning by three goals. It was really that simple, with the Argentine at his mesmerising best to alter the direction of the game with his opening goal and seal the deal with his brilliant second.
Could it be anyone else? Even by his own sizzling standards Lionel Messi is red-hot right now, taking his tally to seven goals in three games including his first ever against Gigi Buffon. He then created the second for Ivan Rakitic and added a superb second in another peerless and majestic display.
Ernesto Valverde: 6
Valverde named his strongest eleven, including full debutant Ousmane Dembele on the right. Lionel Messi again lined up as a false nine in an imbalanced formation which lacked width on the left, and Barca looked predictable until Messi eventually rode to the rescue. The team remains a work in progress.
Max Allegri: 5
The Juve coach was hindered by several absentees and sent out his team in a narrow 4-4-2 shape with Paolo Dybala supporting Gonzalo Higuain. Allegri appeared happy cede width to Barca and focus on defending the centre of the pitch, and it worked pretty well until Messi single-handedly decided the outcome.
