Alaves 0-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi at the double for Barcelona in win over Alaves
Lionel Messi missed a
penalty and then scored twice as Barcelona overcame a resilient Alaves
side to win 2-0 at Estadio Mendizorroza to maintain their 100 per cent
start to the La Liga season.
Barcelona's talisman was handed a golden opportunity to break
the deadlock just before half-time but saw his spot-kick palmed away by
Pacheco after Rodrigo Ely was adjudged to have pulled Gerard Pique to the floor.
However, Messi - whose double saw him pass the milestone of 350 La Liga goals - made amends just 10 minutes after the interval by latching onto Jordi Alba's pull-back (55), before adding his second (66)with a well-taken volley after Alexis' mistake.
Player ratings
Title: Player ratingsAlaves:
Pacheco (7), Vigaray (6), Alexis (4), Ely (5), Pedraza (6), Garcia (6),
Pina (5), Romero (6), Wakaso (5), Gomez (6), Sobrino (6)
Subs: Burgui (6), Santos (6)
Barcelona: Ter-Stegen (7), Roberto (6), Pique (6), Umtiti (7), Alba (6), Busquets (6), Rakitic (6), Iniesta (6), Vidal (5), Deulofeu (5), Messi (8)
Subs: Alcacer (6), D. Suarez (7), Paulinho (N/A)
Man of the match: Lionel Messi
Subs: Burgui (6), Santos (6)
Barcelona: Ter-Stegen (7), Roberto (6), Pique (6), Umtiti (7), Alba (6), Busquets (6), Rakitic (6), Iniesta (6), Vidal (5), Deulofeu (5), Messi (8)
Subs: Alcacer (6), D. Suarez (7), Paulinho (N/A)
Man of the match: Lionel Messi
Shortly afterwards, Barcelona were awarded a penalty after Ely appeared to haul down Pique, who was making his 400th appearance for the club. Messi stepped up to take it and while his effort was well struck it was at a comfortable height for Pacheco to save down to his right.
After a below-par first half performance, Barcelona started the second brightly and took the lead on 55 minutes as Messi found himself in space before shooting low and hard towards goal with the ball looping over Pacheco courtesy of a deflection off Alexis. It was a landmark strike too, marking the Argentine's 350th goal in Barcelona's colours.
Team news
Ousmane
Dembele is set to undergo a medical on Monday so was not involved
tonight. Barcelone were also without Luis Suarez meaning Lionel Messi
lead the line with Aleix Vidal starting on the right wing.
Messi almost capped an eventful day with a hat-trick but saw a wonderful curling attempt from the edge of the area bounce off the woodwork with Pacheco rooted to the spot and there was even time for former Spurs midfielder Paulinho to make a debut cameo as a late substitute.
Following a tumultuous summer, everything seems to be falling into place for Ernesto Valverde with Barcelona taking six points from their opening two La Liga matches and completing the club record £97m signing of Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund on Friday
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