Messi’s four won’t wash with Martin
Martin Braithwaite set up Lionel Messi to complete a four-goal haul on his Barcelona debut – then vowed never to wash his shirt.
Messi had already ended a run of four games without scoring by hitting a hattrick when the Danish striker came off the bench just two days after his surprise switch from La Liga strugglers Leganes.
He immediately endeared himself to his new team-mates and fans when he played the Argentinian in to round Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic to net.
Former Middlesbrough man Braithwaite, who also assisted Arthur Melo to complete the 5- 0 rout, said: “I won’t wash my clothes after I hugged Messi.
“He congratulated me, he’s a great guy and tried to make me feel comfortable on the pitch by passing to me often. I’m very happy to have given my first assist to Leo.
“It was an extraordinary debut, a dream come true.”
Adnan Januzaj scored the third goal as Real Sociedad boosted their bid for a Champions League place next season with a 3- 0 win over Valencia.
Mikel Merino and former Arsenal ace Nacho Monreal had given the Basques a 2- 0 half-time lead.
Erling Haaland continues to rewrite the record books in Germany.
The teenage striker became the first to score nine goals in his first six league Bundesliga games as Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 2- 0.
Dan Axel Zagadou had given Lucien Favre’s side the lead early in the second half before 19-year- old Haaland, who scored both goals in the midweek Champions League win over PSG, made it 12 from eight games in the 66th minute to seal the win.
RB Leipzig remain just ahead of them in second after they thrashed Schalke 5- 0.
The troubles are mounting up for managerless Hertha Berlin after they were thrashed 5- 0 at home by Cologne.
Jhon Cordoba and Florian Kainz both hit doubles against the side Jurgen Klinsmann quit last week after just 76 days in charge.
Borussia Monchengladbach were left cursing Oliver Baumann af ter the Hoffenheim keeper denied them a victory.
Baumann made a string of top saves, including from a penalty, as Lucas Ribiero’s injury- time strike levelled Matthias Ginter’s 11th-minute opener for Borussia.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 1000th professional match by scoring for a recordequalling 11th consecutive Serie A match to help keep Juventus top of the table.
The Portuguese turned in a cross from Juan Cuadrado to give Juve a 39th-minute lead at bottom side SPAL in the 2-1 win.
Former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey doubled their lead on the hour before Andrea Petagna pulled one back from the spot nine minutes later but Juve held on.