Lionel Messi struck a brace either side of an Ivan Rakitic goal to power Barcelona to a dominant 3-0 win over Juventus at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Barcelona continued their perfect start to the 2017-18 season by kicking off their Champions League campaign with a bang. Ernesto Valverde’s men, up against a formidable Juventus, produced a dominant performance to enjoy a comfortable 3-0 win over the Italian champions.
Lionel Messi was on song on Tuesday, much like the previous game in La Liga, as he opened the scoring, had his shot cleared off the line before Ivan Rakitic converted for Barcelona’s second and then rounded off the win with a sumptuous 20-yard strike.
Unsurprisingly, the Argentinean wizard was the talk of the town following a thoroughly commanding performance against a side that hadn’t given him an inch just a few months ago in last season’s campaign in Europe.
Messi at false 9 is bad news for the rest of Europe, most clinical forward on the planet.
— Zane (@WalterTactics) September 12, 2017
Grass is green ?
Clouds are white ☁️
Messi scores wonder goal ⚽️Some things never change pic.twitter.com/1QmQp6Bslg
— Transfer Man (@_transferman) September 12, 2017
Lionel Messi was a giant for Barcelona again ? pic.twitter.com/8zV8sgcL8z
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 13, 2017
? Lionel Messi this season:
? Games: 6
⚽️ Goals: 8
? Woodwork hit: 6 pic.twitter.com/9FjYrHwWtM— FC Barcelona TV ?? (@FC_BarcelonaTv) September 12, 2017
Messi Is The Greatest At What He Does Of All Time Thus Far!!⚽️?
— DXG (@DXG_OP) September 13, 2017
Two beauties by the goat Messi ❤️??✨ pic.twitter.com/127rzTIQpN
— нαɒσσиєssi?94:39✨ (@HadoonM7) September 12, 2017
Messi could’ve genuinely scored a hat-trick in every one of our first four matches of the season. Only the woodwork that has denied him.
— FCB News (@FCBNewsRoom) September 12, 2017
Messi’s performance this game and this season. Wow⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/UJbWHubqw9
— Juan Direction (@JuanDirection58) September 13, 2017
The deadlock breaking goal was the first time Messi found his way past Gianluigi Buffon. The moment had users talking as well.
Lionel Messi has scored his first goal vs. Gianluigi Buffon in his fourth game against him.
Another goalkeeper crossed off the list. pic.twitter.com/uGEmKAdGTU
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 12, 2017
Messi scores his first ever goal against Buffon. And it’s a beauty.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 12, 2017
Buffon can now retire gracefully having conceded against Messi.
— Fred (@WilfredSimonJr) September 12, 2017
“Messi will never score against Buffon” pic.twitter.com/p04a9lo98q
— ~ (@UltraAutistic) September 12, 2017
Buffon’s clean sheet vs Messi is over… pic.twitter.com/s1czPrVV7O
— ItalianFootballTV (@IFTVofficial) September 12, 2017
Messi’s first goal vs Buffon! Vamooooos pic.twitter.com/acqGmjmbor
— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) September 12, 2017
Messi can’t score against Neuer.
Messi can’t score against Van der Sar.
Messi can’t score against Chelsea.
Messi can’t score against Buffon. pic.twitter.com/avXBKTkGWM— infosmessi (@INFOSMESSl) September 12, 2017
How Messi broke the Dead lock of the Buffon Jinx! Enjoy 13 seconds of pure Football delight! ??? pic.twitter.com/S7t0PVheQ5
— Monkey Post (@Monkey_Post) September 12, 2017
Well well well the Jinx has broken !
Messi’s first goal vs Buffon! #UCL
HT: #FCBarcelona 1- 0 #Juventus #barcajuve pic.twitter.com/yFNuXktlUR— Sports Freak (@sportsfreakORG) September 12, 2017
The absence of Giorgio Chiellini and a certain Leonardo Bonucci was another major talking point after Juventus struggled to deal with the Barcelona attack for large parts of the match.
Chiellini and Bonucci wouldnt let that happen.
— JP (@Emperor_RM) September 12, 2017
No Chiellini, Khedira, Sandro, Cuadrado and Marchisio but if Messi scores today the media will act as if he had scored in a CL final.
— JP (@Emperor_RM) September 12, 2017
Like I said, Bonucci will suffer without Chiellini/Barzagli but so will Juventus. These last few days have been a perfect example.
Exposed.
— Calcio Direct (@CalcioDirect) September 13, 2017
FT: 3-0 Barca. What a difference 5 months makes. Absence of Bonucci, Chiellini & Alves more telling than Neymar’s
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) September 12, 2017
Juve look weaker in defense, though. Chiellini was a massive loss tonight. Still, the score makes Juve’s performance look worse than actual
— Carlo Valladares (@C_V_News) September 13, 2017
The leave of Bonucci & the absence of Chiellini definitely affected them. But Barca’s performance especially n the 2nd half was outstanding.
— فراس العرودكي (@Firasias) September 13, 2017