The attacking trifecta of Lionel Messi (two goals, one assist), Luis Suarez (two assists) and Ousmane Dembele (scorer of his first goal for Barca) combined to devastating effect to send Barcelona into the Champions League quarterfinals, 4-1 on aggregate over Chelsea.
Samuel Umtiti was the standout performer in Barca’s defense, and although Chelsea twice struck the woodwork, the 3-0 victory on the night was well deserved for the La Liga leaders.
Again, all the headlines will belong to Messi. The Argentine scored Champions League goals number 99 and 100 in his career, both impudent nutmegs on Belgian international Thibaut Courtois.
100 #UCL goals for Lionel Messi.#LaPulga pic.twitter.com/zGPPhlToKY
— The18 (@the18com) March 14, 2018
The first came after a bit of good fortune in the Chelsea box with Messi’s attempted one-two with Dembele somehow falling to Suarez, but when the ball eventually made it back to the Barca No. 10, he knocked the wind out of the Blues with just over two minutes on the clock.
Messi got the party started for Barcelona with his 99th goal in the Champions League!
Will he get No. 100 in the second half? pic.twitter.com/gvXdMNOyZM— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 14, 2018
Barcelona’s second goal, only 17 minutes later, was sweeter than the deepest of Camp Nou-Andre Gomes affections. Messi drove at the Chelsea defense, skipping by two defenders, before Suarez’s intelligent run opened up space for Dembele in the box.
Messi fed the French winger, and Dembele made no mistake with an emphatic finish. It was the 20-year-old’s first goal for Barcelona since arriving from Dortmund last summer.
Ousmane Dembélé has his first goal for Barcelona!
What a counterattack for Barcelona, created by none other than Lionel Messi. pic.twitter.com/8dcCLSiq9I— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 14, 2018
Messi’s second was of the solo variety. Suarez gets credit for the assist after handing it to the Argentine at the top of the box, but a quick change of pace from Messi quickly sent him hurtling beyond three Chelsea defenders.
He again applied a megged finish, compounding a hellish night for Courtois in goal.
What a night for Messi!
He nutmegs Courtois AGAIN to score his second of the night and make it 3-0 for Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/jZ7obKb8NO— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 14, 2018
With two goals off three shots, one assist and six successful dribbles, Messi’s 71 touches in the match were all pretty much perfect.
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