Magnificent Messi
Argentina star leads Barca to victory over Eindhoven
EINDHOVEN: PSV Eindhoven did all they could to stifle Lionel Messi. It wasn’t enough.
Messi scored one goal after a trademark dribble and set up another from a free- kick as Barcelona beat PSV 2- 1 on Wednesday to secure top spot in Champions League Group B with one match left to play.
“He’s a player you almost can’t stop,” said PSV coach Mark van Bommel.
“You have to do everything you can – and we did that today – to block his shots.
“But sometimes it doesn’t work and that has to do with the quality of the player.
“That’s why he’s the best in the world.”
Barcelona had already qualified for the next round before kicking off at PSV Stadium and were uncharacteristically scrappy at times until a moment of Messi magic finally gave his team the lead in the 61st minute.
The Argentina star scored his 106th Champions League goal by dribbling through a group of PSV defenders and unleashing a powerful shot past Jeroen Zoet.
He then turned supplier for Barcelona’s second, taking a freekick that Gerard Pique deflected past Zoet.
In the group’s other match, substitute Christian Eriksen scored as Tottenham beat Inter Milan 1-0 at Wembley and those teams will fight for second place in the last round.
Tottenham face Barcelona in their last group match while Inter host PSV.
Messi has now scored 10 goals in five Champions League matches against Dutch opponents, including his hattrick against PSV in their Group B opener this season.
But Barcelona will have to raise their game if they are to win back the Champions League trophy that was won by arch-rivals Real Madrid for the last three seasons.
PSV effectively countered Barcelona’s threat for much of the first half by pressing hard and denying Messi and his teammates time to settle, forcing mistakes.
“It is our style of play that we take a lot of risks,” said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
“There are a lot of teams now that try to put us under pressure.
“If we make mistakes in our midfield it is tough but it is part of our risky style.”
PSV were unlucky not to go into the break with at least one goal in front after twice hitting the frame of the goal.
Gaston Pereiro hit the post after 16 minutes and Luuk de Jong saw his looping header rebound off the crossbar shortly before half-time.
De Jong grabbed a consolation goal for the home fans with an 83rd-minute header to set up a frenetic late assault but despite pour-
ing forward in the closing minutes, PSV could not find an equaliser.
“We had problems with De Jong, he is tough to defend,” Valverde said.
“PSV began to believe they had a chance and play long balls but in the end we got the result we came here for.”
PSV coach Mark van Bommel – himself a Champions League winner with Barcelona in his playing days – started with his regular lineup that have won all 13 of their Dutch Eredivisie matches this season but failed to register a victory in the Champions League.
The team have just one point from five matches and are guaranteed to finish bottom of the group. Barcelona were without the injured Luis Suarez, with Ousmane Dembele taking his place.
Dembele scored a goal as Barcelona beat PSV at Nou Camp in their first Group B match this season but could not add to his tally in Eindhoven.
Valverde started Clement Lenglet in defence instead of Samuel Umtiti, who returned to play at the weekend for the first time since the end of September due to a left knee injury but felt discomfort in the knee in training on Tuesday.
The missing players may have contributed to the sometimes disjointed performance.
Messi made sure Barcelona won anyway.