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Lionel Messi and Francisco Trincao scored two every as Barcelona warmed up for Paris Saint-Germain with a 5-1 win over Alaves in La Liga on Saturday.
Trincao opened the scoring after half an hour and Messi added Barca’s second at Camp Nou in first-half stoppage time from 30 yards minutes after having a objective dominated out for offside. Luis Rioja capitalised on a defensive mistake within the 57th minute to briefly give Alaves hope of a comeback earlier than Ronald Koeman’s aspect pulled away within the last stretch of the sport. Trincao scored his second of the night time within the 74th minute and Messi, with one other beautiful long-ranger, adopted go well with a minute later. Defender Junior Firpo accomplished the rout late on.
Positives
This was the proper technique to heat up for Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 tie in opposition to PSG at Camp Nou. Koeman was capable of relaxation a number of essential gamers at varied phases of the sport whereas nonetheless incomes a good-looking win to stay inside eight factors of leaders Atletico Madrid — albeit having performed a recreation extra.
5 La Masia gamers began the sport, together with 18-year-old midfielder Ilaix Moriba, who was making his first-ever look in La Liga. He arrange the primary objective, though he gave the ball away within the second half to inadvertently arrange Alaves’ objective.
As for Messi, he is in nice type, taking his scoring streak in La Liga to 5 video games for the primary time since April 2019. And Trincao discovered that targets are very very similar to London buses; he waited for 27 video games earlier than breaking his duck in opposition to Real Betis final weekend, and he scored two extra right here and will have scored a hat trick.
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Negatives
Barca as soon as once more gave up quite a lot of possibilities with sloppy passing within the center and passive defending. Alaves took solely certainly one of them, but when Lucas Perez had his taking pictures boots on, they may have scored extra.
Supervisor ranking out of 10
7 — Koeman saved gamers recent for PSG, and people he introduced in, resembling Trincao, Riqui Puig and Junior, delivered on the pitch to make it the proper night time for the Dutch coach.
Participant scores (1-10; 10 = greatest. Gamers launched after 70 minutes get no ranking)
GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 — Made a few good interventions, together with one save from Rodrigo Battaglia. Might do little concerning the objective.
DF Oscar Mingueza, 6 — Was a part of a three-man defence with out the ball and was a right-wing-back with the ball. Higher at defending however is enhancing in assault, along with his cross resulting in the opening objective.
DF Frenkie de Jong, 6 — A relaxation for the Dutch midfielder nowadays appears to imply taking part in at centre-back. Did properly with out having to exert himself.
DF Clement Lenglet, 6 — Did OK however nonetheless seems in need of confidence, which is worrying going into the PSG recreation.
DF Junior Firpo, 7 — Has achieved properly when given an opportunity in current weeks and acquired ahead to take his objective properly.
MF Sergio Busquets, 7 — Performed solely 45 minutes with PSG in thoughts however made two of the sport’s greatest passes: one excessive for Antoine Griezmann earlier than a disallowed Messi objective and one other into Messi’s toes for Barca’s second.
MF Ilaix Moriba, 6 — Good composure to arrange the objective however erred with a move to provide one away, too. Total, a memorable night time as he made his La Liga debut.
MF Riqui Puig, 7 — A uncommon 90 minutes for the younger midfielder who acquired higher as the sport went on. Linked properly along with his teammates and confirmed selection along with his passing.
FW Francisco Trincao, 8 — Took each his targets properly and will have scored a hat trick. Denied by Fernando Pacheco when he ought to have handed to Ilaix and had a late effort dominated out for offside.
FW Lionel Messi, 9 — Scored two targets of the best high quality and had a 3rd dominated out for offside. Now has 15 in La Liga, only one fewer than prime scorer Luis Suarez.
FW Antoine Griezmann, 6 — Improved within the second half with some good touches and was concerned in a few the targets. Missed his greatest possibilities, although, together with a second-half volley from shut vary after a wonderful Messi move.
Substitutions
DF Samuel Umtiti, 6 — Did not do rather a lot unsuitable however was far too passive for Rioja’s objective and confirmed him into far an excessive amount of house.
MF Pedri, 8 — It isn’t a coincidence that he got here on at 2-1 and the sport completed 5-1. A superb move to Messi led to Trincao’s second objective.
MF Miralem Pjanic, N/R — Got here on to provide De Jong a breather.
DF Sergino Dest, N/R — Returned from a thigh drawback late on to get some essential minutes pre-PSG.
FW Ousmane Dembele, N/R — Given the ultimate jiffy instead of Griezmann.
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