With every Lionel Messi show-stealing performance, the superlatives roll in. This time Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said the unparalleled Argentine made it look as simple being out on the "school yard" in dissecting Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
Messi supplied a hat-trick with characteristic aplomb as Barca silenced City 4-0 at the Camp Nou. Messi has now scored two hat-tricks in as many games in this season's Champions League as he showed no signs of rust on his first start for a month after a groin injury.
“We have seen the calm that Messi has to finish inside the area as if he was in the school yard,” added Enrique.
“If there is anything you can expect of Messi it is that. It doesn’t matter how many days he has been out or the games he has missed.”
• Andy Mitten: Less between Barca and Man City than score suggests, but still one big difference – Leo Messi
• In pictures: A night for Lionel Messi as Barcelona humble Pep Guardiola's Manchester City
Messi pounced on Fernandinho’s slip to give Barca a half-time lead and two more sumptuous Messi finishes soon followed.
Manchester City’s Claudio Bravo and Pep Guardiola endured a nightmare return to Barcelona, meanwhile.
Guardiola led Barca to 14 trophies in a glorious four-year reign between 2008 and 2012, but his homecoming was undone by a series of shocking defensive errors, including Bravo’s red card.
Guardiola’s former teammate Enrique believed Bravo’s dismissal changed the game.
“The sending-off was decisive and conditioned the game a lot,” said Enrique.
“Teams that try to play from the back know those errors can happen and you have to accept it. In the long-run it is more beneficial.”
*Agence France-Presse
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
