Super-sub Messi scores twice to lead Barca to Betis win
Lionel Messi came on at half-time to rescue Barcelona by scoring twice, including his first goal from open play this year, in a 5-2 victory over Real Betis on Saturday.
Messi have been rested by Ronald Koeman but was thrown on with the overall game in the total amount after Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty in the Argentinian's absence, before Antonio Sanabria cancelled out Ousmane Dembele's opener.
But within four minutes of his introduction, Messi gave Griezmann an open goal with a superb dummy and scored twice himself, the first a penalty that saw Betis' Aissa Mandi sent off for a handball at risk.
Among, Loren Moron had given Betis brief hope but Messi's second and a late strike from Pedri ensured Barcelona ended their four-match winless run and climbed to eighth in La Liga.
Messi gave a resounding response to those suggesting his performances this year have been proof decline.
"Leo finished the match against Kiev with some problems," said Koeman. "He wasn't in a position to play in the first half but we talked about him being on the bench and said he'd come on if he felt good.
"He's a player who in principle always plays, but today he didn't as a result of some minor problems."
Even before registering his first goal of the growing season from open play, the 33-year-old had turned this game, putting Barcelona in control along with his brilliant dummy for Griezmann and a penalty won from a Dembele shot, teed up by his pass.
Griezmann also got his goal with Messi on the pitch but was struggling to prove a spot without him.
- Gloomy Griezmann -
Despite a lively opening around 30 minutes, Griezmann missed a penalty before Messi scored his and the Frenchman was eventually substituted, pictured sat in the stands with a gloomy expression while Barca romped to victory.
"I am hoping he continues to work like he is working," said Koeman. "To miss opportunities you need to be there. We should highlight his character, to keep working. He knows correctly well that he has missed a penalty, plus some chances, nonetheless it means he's always there to score."
Neither team seemed too enthusiastic about defending in early stages as Griezmann and Ansu Fati fired off two shots each while Marc-Andre ter Stegen needed to be aware of push away William Carvalho's header.
Barca broke through after 22 minutes when Dembele cut inside onto his left foot before hammering a finish past Claudio Bravo for his first league goal in 13 months.
When Mandi conceded a penalty after sliding in on Ansu at the front post, Griezmann had his chance to include an objective to his busy first-half display.
But Griezmann missed, a tame shot easily saved by Bravo, before Betis scored, Sanabria finishing after Cristian Tello had again surged clear down the left.
Messi came on and four minutes later Barca were ahead, the Argentinian scuttling to meet up Jordi Alba's cross at the front end post, and then step over the ball, fooling his marker and the goalkeeper, to leave Griezmann with an open net.
Eleven minutes later, Messi managed to get 3-1 with a penalty, won after his pass had create Dembele for a go that was blocked at risk by the arm of Mandi, who was simply sent off.
Moron gave Betis hope with 17 minutes left when he finished off Alex Moreno's pullback but Messi ensured, latching onto Sergi Roberto's flick and smashing in his second and Barca's fourth. Pedri managed to get five in injury-time.
Sevilla later beat Osasuna 1-0 because of a penalty from Lucas Ocampos, that moves them up to 11th.
It is only the next time Sevilla have managed back-to-back wins this season, after a 3-2 victory over Krasnodar on Wednesday in the Champions League.
