Messi plays 45 minutes in Barca friendly win
Lionel Messi started and played 45 minutes found in Barcelona's first pre-season friendly on Saturday while Ronald Koeman showed no hesitation found in reintegrating the Argentinian.
Barca defeat third tier area Gimnastic Tarragona 3-1, with Ousmane Dembele opening the scoring on his first appearance since November.
Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho, who was also returning after his mortgage loan spell in Bayern Munich, then each scored penalties, either area of Javier Bonilla pulling an individual back for the tourists.
But Messi's return at the Johan Cruyff Stadium was possibly the biggest plus for Koeman, who was taking fee of his first video game since being appointed trainer last month.
Messi also led the crew out putting on the armband after Barcelona had confirmed earlier on Saturday that he'll continue seeing that captain this season.
Both club and player appear keen to put up a united front, at least for the present time, ahead of their return to La Liga later on this month.
Immediately after condemning the board the other day and admitting he had been forced to remain, Messi arrived in early stages Monday for his go back to pre-season training and done the squad's days off in a bid to catch up.
Koeman, meanwhile, said previous month he only wanted players who exactly wanted to be at Barcelona but he was filled with praise for Messi on Friday, calling him "the very best", and backed that up found in his first team selection.
Messi played 45 mins within Koeman's plan to discipline two different line-ups found in each half.
Yet his starting front three of Messi, Griezmann and Dembele appeared suspiciously such as a first-decision attack, with Dembele producing his first visual aspect since he tore his hamstring nine a few months ago.
Koeman also handed starts to youngsters Carles Alena and Pedri found in midfield even though Jordi Alba, Clement Lenglet, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto formed a good familiar back four, ahead of Neto, who's standing in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.
New signing Francisco Trincao, Coutinho, Frenkie de Jong and 19-year-good old American intercontinental Konrad de la Fuente were among those to come on for the second half.
There was room in the squad for sometimes Luis Suarez or Arturo Vidal, who've both been told they are able to leave.
Barcelona will not play their primary La Liga game against Villarreal until round three by the end of the month, having been granted extra time off because of their involvement found in last season's Champions Group.
Reigning champions Legitimate Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla happen to be also sitting away the first weekend.
But seven game titles are scheduled this Saturday and Sunday, the first of them finishing goalless between Eibar and Celta Vigo.
Still without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic, Spain's top flight got away to a slow begin at Ipurua, where Eibar finished with 10 men soon after Pape Diop was sent off in the 87th minute.
Granada then found where they still left off last time by defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at Los Carmenes even while newly-promoted Cadiz, back La Liga for the very first time in 14 years, lost 2-0 in the home to Osasuna.
