Barcelona managed to beat PSV Eindhoven with a landslide score of 4-0 in a Champions League match at Camp Nou on Tuesday (9/18) local time. Lionel Messi became a star of victory with a hat trick.
Barcelona appear dominant since the beginning of the first half. They can master the groove and push the PSV defense line. Meanwhile, the Dutch representative only occasionally pressed to use the speed of counterattack.
Although dominant, Barcelona failed to score goals through open games. A number of opportunities obtained failed to produce goals. Barcelona striker Luis Suarez became a player who failed to take advantage of a number of opportunities to score goals.
In the midst of difficulties Barcelona scored, Messi became Barcelona’s savior through his free kick goal in the 32nd minute. Messi sent the ball to the top left corner of the PSV goal without being able to reach Jeroen Zoet.
After winning 1-0 in the first round, the game flow didn’t change much in the second half. Barcelona continued to dominate while PSV continued to target the gap in Barcelona’s defense through a counter-attack scheme. Barcelona had a good chance to score when Philippe Coutinho opened fire in the 58th minute. But Coutinho’s shot was successfully pushed out by Zoet. Three minutes later, Messi again got the chance to take a free kick. But this time the shot was still rising above the goal.
In the 62nd minute, PSV continued its efforts to open fire from outside the penalty box. Angelino, who this time fired a long-range shot, managed to get the ball rolling on target. But Ter Stegen can read the ball well.
After several failed attempts to get the second goal, Barcelona finally succeeded in doubling the advantage in the 75th minute through Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman immediately penetrated after receiving the ball from Coutinho.
When Dembele was in front of the penalty box, he decided to open a shot that led smoothly into the left corner of the goal.
Two minutes later, Barcelona successfully scored the third goal. Ivan Rakitic’s accurate pass to the penalty box was immediately greeted by a left-footed shot by Messi. The ball slid into the right corner of the goal and Zoet did not react to the kick.
In the 77th minute, Barcelona had to play with 10 people because Samuel Umtiti received a second yellow card after breaking Hirving Lozano. But that does not make Barcelona choose to survive in the remaining time.
The Blaugrana even got their fourth goal through Lionel Messi’s hat trick in the 88th minute. Messi was able to read Suarez’s pass well. Messi then fired a right-footed shot which sent the ball into the goal. 4-0 score lasted until the end of the game.