Brilliant from Barca. Magic from Messi.
It’s common knowledge that the group stages of the Champions League don’t really mean that much but Barcelona have sent an early earning to the rest of Europe.
Ernesto Valverde has won his first Champions League game at the Nou Camp after his side demolished last season’s beaten finalists Juventus by 3-0.
Goals from Rakitic and a brace from Messi proved to be the difference.
La Liga might be in its infancy but Messi has looked absolutely imperious so far with a hat-trick against Espanyol coming after his two goals against Alaves.
In what’s a rather peculiar stat, the Argentinian has never scored against Buffon in the Champions League but like so many other records, Messi has now broken that.
Here’s his first goal that came just on the stroke of half-time as he played a neat one-two with Luis Suarez before firing into the bottom corner.
Lionel Messi's first EVER goal vs. Gianluigi Buffon in his stellar career.
Good things come to legends who wait 👏 pic.twitter.com/dPX92ld763
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 12, 2017
Messi may have waited more than a decade to score past the legendary Italian ‘keeper, but he didn’t have to wait too much longer for his second goal.
Take a look at this strike on 69 minutes.
Barca are up and running and Messi, well, he’s being Messi.
https://twitter.com/FP__Media/status/907699771741220865
