Five things learned as Messi rewrites the Champions League record books at Fortress Nou

It was a pulsating encounter at the Camp Nou, but Barcelona produced a vintage performance, winning 4-0 against PSV.

Barcelona dominated the early exchanges despite some threat from PSV, but it was their main man, Lionel Messi, who produced the goods once again, breaking the deadlock with a sensational free-kick on the 31st minute.

Barca took an iron grip of the match in the second half, with Ousmane Dembele scoring a brilliant solo goal, before Messi popped up again to bag a brace after netting a trademark left-foot finish from an expert Ivan Rakitic pass.

Messi would complete his hat-trick soon after, and in doing so he ensured that he has now scored more Champions League goals than PSV. The only blemish on an otherwise routine result was a red card for Samuel Umtiti.

So, with all that considered, what did we learn?

1. No possession, no problem: PSV’s devastating counter-attack

Before Lionel Messi caressed home a sumptuous free-kick on the half an hour mark, PSV were causing the Blaugrana a number problems due to the intensity of their counter-attacking football, with the Dutch outfit registering four shots despite only having 20 per cent possession.

These were not half chances either, Steven Bergwijn’s curling effort whistled whiskers past the post, while Gaston Pereiro’s half volley would have stung the back of the net if it was just a couple of inches lower.

Mark van Bommel knew his side would not be capable of outplaying the perennial passing machine that is Barcelona, but his side were extremely effective in playing to their strengths despite the heavy scoreline, with the Dutchman utilising the sheer pace and precision of Bergwijn and Hirving Lozano – who’s name rose to prominence during the World Cup for his attacking potency and winner against Germany.

We all knew about Lozano’s speed after his exploits in Russia, but there was a defining moment in the first-half when the Mexican blitzed past known pace-merchant Jordi Alba despite the Spaniard having a couple of yards on ‘Chucky,’ before skewing a wayward effort towards the corner flag.

Lozano was Juan Carlos Osorio’s secret weapon in Russia for Mexico, and it appears Mark van Bommel is following suit in his use of the 23-year-old; the incisive winger got Umtiti sent off and he will cause Inter Milan and Spurs big problems.

2. Messi must transfer group form to latter stages 

Messi is the king of the Group Stages after becoming the first player in Champions League history to score eight hat-tricks in the competition, but he must now deliver this sort of performance in the latter stages of the tournament if Barca are to triumph this season.

This evening, he also mastered the free-kick craft. Emerging from La Masia as a fledgling forward with an outrageously deadly left-boot, Messi would have been low on the free-kick pecking order while the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco were lighting up the Camp Nou during his formative years.

However, as Messi quickly developed into a ridiculously good footballer, he soon found himself as the undisputed number one set-piece taker, and while we all know of his dead-ball credentials, he is only really now starting to flourish on free-kick duty.

Messi opened proceedings this evening after elegantly curling a delightful free-kick into the top corner, leaving Jeroen Zoet absolutely no chance, and that goal ensured he has now scored eight direct free-kicks in 2018, which is the most he has netted in a calendar year, proving that the Argentinian ace has truly mastered another footballing art.

It is a telling statistic that just four of Messi’s 101 Champions League goals have been scored from direct free-kicks, and fortunately for the 31-year-old, that goal secured his position as only the second player in Champions League history to score in 14 consecutive seasons, alongside Raul.

3. Coutinho stars on Champions League debut

Philippe Coutinho played in his first Champions League match for Barcelona this evening after being ineligible towards the second half of last season following his transfer from Liverpool, and the Brazilian playmaker thrived on his debut.

Pulling the creative strings from the centre of the park, Coutinho dictated the playing style of Barca’s play and set the tone for the tempo of the match, majestically drifting across the pitch, spraying passes and pressing with great alacrity.

The former Liverpool man was sensational tonight, and his link-up play with Lionel Messi was a sight to behold as the pair played with a telepathic understanding of each-other.

Alongside Sergio Busquets, Coutinho was thriving in the middle of the park, and despite playing a more advanced role, the pint-sized magician registered more touches (91) and passes (81) than Ivan Rakitic.

4. Dembele: the ambipedal king

Ousmane Dembele is the ambipedal king, capable of producing moments of brilliance with either foot in the blink of an eye, and once again tonight he produced a goal of world-class quality after spinning two PSV players before racing through and curling a delectable effort with his right boot.

That goal ensured that the Frenchman has now been directly involved in 34 first-team goals with his right foot for club & country, netting 18 goals and registering 16 assists, while he has also unbelievably been directly involved in 31 with his left.

It took some time for Dembele to find his footing tonight after producing a tame first-half performance, but after the restart the 21-year-old exploded into life and lit up the Camp Nou with his fine finish – his importance to this side cannot be questioned.

Dembele is on red-hot form having netted five goals across all competitions for Barca, sitting second in the goalscoring charts this term behind only Messi, who netted three tonight. The Frenchman has followed his goal up after netting a left-footed winner against Real Sociedad over the weekend.

5. Fortress Camp Nou

Barca have now won 25 of their last 27 Champions League matches at the Camp Nou and remain unbeaten in that time with the other two matches ending in draws. In fact, the last defeat the club suffered on home turf came in 2013 after being humbled 3-0 by Bayern Munich.

The Camp Nou will be the base of the Blaugrana’s success in Europe this season as Ernesto Valverde looks to put a stop to Real Madrid’s stranglehold over the Champions League, and tonight they were emphatic at the Camp Nou, brushing past PSV with relative comfort.

Last season in the competition the club were formidable on home soil, winning every one of the Champions League matches they participated in, including the 3-0 win over Juventus, the 3-0 win over Chelsea, and the 4-1 win over Roma.

Valverde’s men famously capitulated in the second half of that leg against the Giallorossi, but having significantly bolstered their armoury over the summer, another result like that seems unlikely.

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