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Lionel Messi got here on at half-time to rescue Barcelona by scoring twice, together with his first objective from open play this season, in a 5-2 victory over Real Betis on Saturday. Messi had been rested by Ronald Koeman however was thrown on with the sport within the stability after Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty within the Argentinian’s absence, earlier than Antonio Sanabria cancelled out Ousmane Dembele’s opener. But inside 4 minutes of his introduction, Messi gave Griezmann an open objective with an excellent dummy after which scored twice himself, the primary a penalty that noticed Betis’ Aissa Mandi despatched off for a handball on the road.
In between, Loren Moron had given Betis temporary hope however Messi’s second and a late strike from Pedri ensured Barcelona ended their four-match winless run, and climbed to eighth in La Liga.
Koeman’s assistant Alfred Schreuder mentioned earlier than the match Messi was “not fresh”, however the 33-year-old gave a powerful reply to these suggesting his performances this season, have been proof of decline.
Even earlier than registering his first objective of the season from open play, Messi had turned this recreation, placing Barcelona in management together with his sensible dummy for Griezmann after which a penalty received from a Dembele shot, teed up by his cross.
Griezmann additionally obtained his objective with Messi on the pitch, however was unable to show some extent with out him.
Despite a vigorous opening half an hour, Griezmann missed a penalty earlier than Messi scored his and the Frenchman was ultimately substituted, pictured sitting within the stands with a depressing expression whereas Barca romped to victory.
Neither workforce appeared too serious about defending early on as Griezmann and Ansu Fati fired off two photographs every, whereas Marc-Andre ter Stegen needed to be alert to push away William Carvalho’s header.
Barca broke by means of after 22 minutes when Dembele lower inside onto his left foot, earlier than hammering a end previous Claudio Bravo for his first league objective in 13 months.
When Mandi conceded a penalty after sliding in on Ansu on the entrance submit, Griezmann had his likelihood so as to add a objective to his busy first-half show.
But Griezmann missed, a tame shot simply saved by Bravo, earlier than Betis scored, Sanabria ending after Cristian Tello had once more surged clear down the left.
Messi got here on and 4 minutes later Barca had been forward, the Argentinian scuttling to fulfill Jordi Alba’s cross on the entrance submit, solely to step over the ball, fooling his marker and the goalkeeper, to depart Griezmann with an open web.
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Eleven minutes later, Messi made it 3-1 with a penalty, received after his cross had arrange Dembele for a shot that was blocked on the road by the arm of Mandi, who was despatched off.
Moron gave Betis hope with 17 minutes left when he completed off Alex Moreno’s pullback however Messi made certain, latching onto Sergi Roberto’s flick and smashing in his second and Barca’s fourth. Pedri made it 5 in injury-time.
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