SM
Inter Milan vs. Como: 13 hrs 13 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
BL
Champions League | Round of 16
Mar 13, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
L

5-1

Messi (18' pen., 78'), Coutinho (31'), Pique (81'), Dembele (86')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Tousart (58')

He had a magical night: Messi hails Ronaldo's Champions League hat-trick

:Headline: He had a magical night: Messi hails Ronaldo's Champions League hat-trick: ID:353333: from db_amp
Messi praised his rival after leading Barcelona to victory over Lyon.

Lionel Messi saluted Cristiano Ronaldo's efforts from the previous night after producing a superb display of his own in Barcelona's thrashing of Lyon on Wednesday.

Messi scored two goals and set up two more at the Nou Camp as Barca triumphed 5-1 against the French side in their Champions League last-16 second leg, three weeks on from leg one ending goalless.

On Tuesday, his old rival Ronaldo's hat-trick secured Juventus a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid for a 3-2 victory on aggregate.

“What Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus did was impressive”
- Lionel Messi

Messi was quoted by Marca as saying after the Lyon game: "What Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus did was impressive.

"I thought Atletico Madrid would be tougher. Ronaldo had a magical night with three goals."

Regarding Friday's draw for the quarter and semi-finals, Messi added: "All of the opponents are complicated.

"Ajax (who beat Real Madrid in the last 16), for example, showed that they're an amazing team of youngsters and they don't fear anyone.

"It'll be difficult no matter who we face. We have to prepare ourselves for a tough challenge."

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde was quoted as saying in his post-match press conference: "We're all very focused on this competition and Messi is too. He played an incredible match."

Valverde also echoed Messi's sentiments with regard to the draw.

"It's impossible to look at just one team," he said. "We've all done well to get through. We'll see who we will play, but any opponent will be complicated."

Messi opened the scoring with a 17th-minute Panenka-style penalty, and Philippe Coutinho then made it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark.

Lucas Tousart pulled a goal back for Lyon in the 58th minute, before Messi added his second in the 78th and then teed up Gerard Pique and substitute Ousmane Dembele.

Luis Suarez won the penalty when he went down in the area when challenged by Jason Denayer. Referee Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot and Messi then coolly converted after the incident was checked by VAR.

Marca reported that Suarez said in an interview with Movistar Plus: "I think I accidentally stepped on him (Denayer) and I think that unbalanced me a little. The referee can decide to give it or not."

Meanwhile, Lyon boss Bruno Genesio described Messi as a "genius."

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo scored three times against Atletico Madrid (Martin Rickett/PA)

Genesio said in quotes on his club's official website: "I saw a first period where we suffered a lot. Barca put enormous pressure on us, which we did not know how to answer.

"In the second half, we had a better time. We were able to recover the ball higher, posed problems and reduced the score.

"Unfortunately, Barca scored their third goal at that moment. It hurt us a lot and it boosted Barca's spirits.

"When Messi is at such a level, he is almost unstoppable. He is one of the best players of all time, a genius."

Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was hurt in a collision with Coutinho while the score was 1-0 and received lengthy treatment before continuing, only to then be substituted for Mathieu Gorgelin shortly after the Brazilian made it 2-0.

Genesio said: "Antho (Lopes) had lost consciousness at the time but did not want to go out. Finally, the doctor asked me to take him out so as not to take any chances."

amp_article__353333 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-14 07:11:58:
html db last update - 2019-03-14 07:11:58 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Lionel Messi

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .