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Lionel Messi got here off the bench to encourage Barcelona to a 5-2 win in opposition to 10-man Real Betis on Saturday as Ronald Koeman’s aspect ended a four-game winless run in La Liga.
Messi arrange Antoine Griezmann with an beautiful dummy earlier than scoring from the penalty spot after which netting his sixth aim of the season, however his first from open play, late on.
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Barca had taken an early lead by way of Ousmane Dembele however squandered a bunch of possibilities to double their benefit, together with a penalty miss from Griezmann. Betis made them pay when Antonio Sanabria equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Koeman introduced Messi on on the break and inside minutes he’d helped arrange Griezmann and transformed a penalty after Aissa Mandi was despatched off for dealing with the ball on the road. Betis briefly bought again into the sport once more by way of Loren Moron however targets from Messi and Pedri wrapped up the three factors for Barca.
Positives
Koeman was inundated with questions about Messi’s form on Friday, with the suggestion being that the ahead is in decline. This efficiency confirmed there’s nothing to fret about but. And whereas it is unlikely Messi can have doubted himself, he can have been relieved to attain from open play for the primary time this season.
Extra positives? Dembele’s wanting sharp, Pedri retains on delivering and Frenkie de Jong was good. Above all, Barca had been enjoyable to observe and created a loads of possibilities — they might have scored 10.
Negatives
The flip aspect to that’s they missed plenty of possibilities, too. They might have scored 4 inside the primary 10 minutes and been out of sight by half-time. Ultimately, they received emphatically, however there’s nonetheless room to enhance.
There’s additionally work to do on the again. Betis’ targets had been avoidable.
Supervisor ranking out of 10
7 — Koeman lastly took the possibility to relaxation Messi, who had began the membership’s final 37 league video games. The 45 minutes sat on the bench did him the world of fine based mostly on his second-half show.
Participant rankings (1-10; 10 = greatest, gamers launched after 70 minutes get no ranking)
GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 — Made one good save from William Carvalho early on. Might do little in regards to the Betis targets.
DF Sergi Roberto, 6 — Each targets originated from his flank and he misplaced his particular person battle with the spectacular Alex Moreno. Balanced his efficiency with two nice late assists, one for Messi and one other for Pedri.
DF Gerard Pique, 5 — Might have been higher positioned for the Betis targets. Has to play so much resulting from Barca’s scarcity of centre-backs so will profit from the upcoming worldwide break.
DF Clement Lenglet, 5 — Like Pique, not his greatest efficiency. Misplaced focus, maybe as a result of Barca spent a lot of the sport additional up the pitch.
DF Jordi Alba, 6 — Efficient in assault. His crosses led, both immediately or not directly, to Barca’s first penalty and Griezmann’s aim.
MF Sergio Busquets, 6 — Has struggled at occasions this season however has appeared a bit higher in video games this week in opposition to Dynamo Kiev and Betis.
MF Frenkie de Jong, 7 — One in all his greatest performances this season. Glided ahead with the ball glued to his toes and used it effectively.
FW Ousmane Dembele, 8 — Scored a surprising strike along with his left foot and received Barca’s second penalty when his shot was dealt with on the road.
FW Antoine Griezmann, 6 — The France worldwide’s efficiency was good however his ending was woeful. Missed 4 good possibilities, together with a penalty, earlier than rolling into an empty web due to Messi’s genius.
FW Pedri, 7 — Continues to play extra minutes than anybody anticipated this season and continues to indicate why. One nice flicked move for Griezmann deserved an help and he grabbed his second aim for the membership late on.
FW Ansu Fati, 6 — Received the primary penalty however missed a few possibilities within the first half earlier than coming off at half-time with a minor harm.
Substitutes
FW Lionel Messi, 9 — A de facto help and two targets wasn’t a nasty return for his 45 minutes on the pitch.
FW Francisco Trinaco, 6 — Got here on for Dembele and did OK.
FW Martin Braithwaite, NR — A late introduction rather than Griezmann.
MF Miralem Pjanic, NR — Changed Busquets far too late to make any type of mark on the sport.
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