Messi comes off bench to score 2 in Barça’s 5-2 win vs Betis

Lionel Messi got here off the bench at halftime to attain two targets as Barcelona beat 10-man Real Betis 5-2 on Saturday to finish its four-game winless streak within the Spanish league.

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman gave Messi some uncommon relaxation throughout the first half. It was Messi’s first league recreation in its place in additional than a yr. Assistant coach Alfred Schreuder mentioned earlier than kickoff that Messi “was not fresh.”

Ousmane Dembele blasted a shot previous former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to offer the hosts the lead within the 22nd minute.

Betis ahead Antonio Sanabria equalized within the closing seconds of the primary half that featured 4 clear misses by Barcelona’s struggling ahead Antoine Griezmann, together with a penalty blocked by Bravo.

Messi spent the primary half tucked in a winter coat and carrying a face masks like different substitutes within the in any other case empty Camp Nou. That all modified when Messi went on at first of the second half for Ansu Fati and had a decisive impression.

Messi solely wanted 4 minutes to impression the match when he neatly passed over a go to let it run although for Griezmann to faucet residence.

Messi continued to indicate his playmaking expertise. Deep inside Betis’ space, Messi turned and fed a go to Dembele, whose shot was goal-bound when defender Aissa Mandi blocked it together with his arm. A video evaluation led to Mandi being proven a crimson card for impeding a transparent aim.

Messi stepped up and causally blasted his spot kick into the highest proper nook to make it 3-1 within the 61st.

Lorenzo Morón bought one again for Betis within the 73rd after Barcelona’s protection struggled to mark winger Álex Moreno.

But Messi put the end result past doubt when Sergi Roberto set him up with a high-quality back-heeled go for the Argentina ahead to get his sixth aim in all competitions this season.

Roberto additionally assisted Pedro “Pedri” González within the 90th because the 17-old-year midfielder claimed his first league aim.