Lionel Messi bagged easy hat-trick to send Pep Guardiola’s City team packing in a game of 10 v 10.
City matched the hosts with a clever across-pitch man-mark press. Pep’s plans were working and ‘MSN’ were silenced. However, Messi did make the breakthrough when handed an easy chance after an unfortunate slip from Fernandinho.
Spanish duo, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique were forced off and Barcelona reverted to a make-shift back four. City came close through Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones but somehow managed to go into the break without scoring.
Claudio Bravo’s Camp Nou return didn’t go as planned when the 33-year-old was sent off for purposely handling the ball outside his area. Just seconds later, Pablo Zabaleta left City without a fit, senior right-back and Willy Caballero and Gael Clichy were introduced.
Messi took advantage of 10-man City and trebled his lead, but to be fair he won’t have had many other hat-tricks gifted so generously to him.
Some bright play from Raheem Sterling forced Jeremy Mathieu’s second bookable offence and the numbers were back level – but it was too late for City to mount any sort of comeback.
Messi skipped past City defenders before being brought down in the box, earning him a penalty that he donated to teammate Neymar. The Brazilian failed to convert from the spot but made up for it in stoppage time to extend Barcelona’s lead to four.
A forgettable night for City, who played anything but the ‘perfect game’. Here’s tonight’s match ratings.
