Football news - Lionel Messi magic seals top spot for Barcelona
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Updated 28/11/2018 at 22:31 GMT
Champions League, Group B, Philips Stadion - PSV 1 (De Jong 83') Barcelona 2 (Messi 61', Pique 70')
Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) celebrates with teammates French forward Ousmane Dembele (R) and Portuguese defender Nelson Semedo (L) after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match between PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona at P
Image credit: Getty Images
A magical goal from Lionel Messi helped Barcelona seal top spot in their Champions League group with a 2-1 win away at PSV Eindhoven.
The home team missed the opportunity to go ahead in a rather dour opening half when Gastón Pereiro managed to fire over a few yards out of goal having been played in by a flick from captain Luuk de Jong.
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Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) vies with Eindhoven's players during the UEFA Champions League football match between PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona at Philips stadium in Eindhoven on November 28, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
And the deadlock was broken when Messi picked up the ball, weaved past a few players, played a one-two with Ousmane Dembele, did some more weaving, and then fired home. It was Messi's 106th Champions League goal for Barcelona, the most of any player for one single team.
Gerard Pique turned home Messi's free-kick to double the lead but De Jong pulled one back to make things interesting. PSV had late chances but they were unable to find the equaliser. They are now eliminated whilst Barca secure top spot.
TALKING POINT
Should Ernesto Valverde be concerned by Barca’s defence? Along with Juventus and Manchester City, Barcelona are considered among the frontrunners for this season’s Champions League. But can they really go all the way when they looked so vulnerable against a team like PSV Eindhoven? The Dutch outfit are strong at home, but Barca never should have allowed so many chances on their own goal, with Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Marc-Andre Der Stegen all unusually slack on the ball.
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Barcelona's Spanish coach Ernesto Valverde reacts during the UEFA Champions League football match between PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona at Philips stadium in Eindhoven on November 28, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) It was Messi’s moment of brilliance that broke the deadlock, and from that point on Barcelona took a grip of things. The Catalans weren’t at their best, with Messi sometimes struggling to find top form without strike partner Luis Suarez alongside him, but the Argentinean was still the best player on the pitch, as he so often is. PSV just couldn't handle him, especially in the second half when the game become a bit more stretched.
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Barcelona Messi
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PLAYER RATINGS
PSV Eindhoven - Zoet 6, Dumfries 6, Schwaab 5, Viergever 5, Angelino 7, Hendrix 6, Rosario 6, Lozano 6, Pereiro 7, Bergwijn 6, De Jong 8. Subs - Gutierrez 6, Romero 5, Malen 5.
Barcelona - Ter Stegen 5, Semedo 6, Pique 6, Lenglet 5, Alba 6, Rakitic 5, Busquets 4, Vidal 7, Dembele 6, Messi 8, Coutinho 6. Subs - Malcom 6, Denis 5.
KEY MOMENTS
25’ Should be 1-0! Pereiro should have given PSV the lead! De Jong's knockdown was collected by the PSV midfielder, but he could only scoop his finish over the bar under pressure about six yards out.
35’ Cleared off the line! What an effort that was from Vidal! He hooked a shot towards the target with his back to goal, but Rosario was back on the line to clear with his head! Close!
36’ Off the line again! From the very next corner kick, Vidal has another cleared off the line! Angelino was back on the post and clears to stop the Chilean from finding the net with a header.
62’ GOAL! PSV Eindhoven 0-1 Barcelona: It's an opener and it's Messi who has grabbed it! I'm not quite sure how he managed to squeeze that through Dumfries' legs, but he did! Messi was the one who started the move and he was the one who finished it! That was classic Messi.
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Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) celebrates with teammates French forward Ousmane Dembele (R) and Portuguese defender Nelson Semedo (L)
Image credit: Getty Images
70’ GOAL! PSV Eindhoven 0-2 Barcelona: Barcelona get a bit lucky, but they have a second! Everyone was prepared for the Messi shot from the freekick, he scuffed his effort, but Pique was alert in the middle and managed to turn the effort into the net.
80’ How didn't he score?! Lozano was clean through, but he got too close to Ter Stegen and the Barcelona goalkeeper comes out to smother the shot from the Mexican winger!
83’ GOAL! PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Barcelona: A lifeline for the Dutch side! Angelino, not for the first time this evening, gets to the byline and crosses for de Jong. The striker rises highest and directs a header into the far corner of the Barcelona net! Game on.
KEY STATS
Lionel Messi has scored 15 or more goals in each of the last 13 seasons for Barcelona (in all competitions).
Messi is also the top scorer in this season’s Champions League with six goals so far.
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