It’s business as usual for Messi

– Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde heaped praise on Lionel Messi’s start to the Liga season after the Argentine bounced back from a disappointing World Cup with two goals against Alaves.

Messi sent an audacious second-half free-kick under the jumping wall for the opener, and Barca’s 6 000th La Liga goal, at the Camp Nou on Saturday before hitting his second after Philippe Coutinho had also scored in the 3-0 win. –