Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Result: Lionel Messi pays tribute to Diego Maradona after scoring in Barcelona win

sportsmole.co.uk, 29 November 2020, 17:08

Lionel Messi produced a late goal and a poignant celebration as Barcelona enjoyed a dominant 4-0 LaLiga victory over Osasuna.

In Barca's first home game since the death of their former player Diego Maradona, the Catalan club were convincing winners at the Nou Camp.

Maradona's fellow Argentinian, Messi, fittingly scored the final goal in the 73rd minute, and celebrated by taking off his shirt to reveal the number 10 jersey of his youth team, Newell's Old Boys, in tribute to Maradona, who represented the same club towards the latter stages of his career.

Martin Braithwaite opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, with Antoine Griezmann doubling their advantage with a stunning volley shortly before half-time. Philippe Coutinho made it three on 57 minutes before Messi sealed matters.

Griezmann created Barca's first chance of the encounter, crossing to Coutinho who was poised to tap the ball in but saw his effort blocked on the line by defender Unai Garcia.

France international Griezmann pushed forwards again minutes later and produced a long-range shot, but goalkeeper Sergio Herrera anticipated the danger and made a neat save.

Barcelona became increasingly threatening as Griezmann unleashed another shot, this time curling just wide of the post, and Coutinho also tested Herrera with an effort that was well blocked.

Braithwaite broke the deadlock after 29 minutes, linking up with Coutinho and forcing Herrera into a double save before finally finding the back of the net with his third attempt.

Ten minutes later Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to fend off two shots from Oier Sanjurjo and Garcia before an effort from Ante Budimir crossed the line, but there was an offside in the prior passage of play and the goal was quickly ruled out.

Instead it was the hosts who scored the next goal three minutes before the break, with Jordi Alba's cross cleared by Jon Moncayola before Griezmann intercepted and volleyed superbly past a helpless Herrera.

Moncayola then attempted his own volley in the second minute of first-half added time, but his effort swung off target and failed to worry Ter Stegen.

Shortly after the break Frenkie De Jong was handed a chance to provide Barca's third goal when Messi crossed, but the Dutchman could not find the target with his header.

Coutinho made it 3-0 in the 57th minute when he laid off to Braithwaite before running into the box and tapping in from Griezmann's unselfish pass.

The former Liverpool man was then replaced by Ousmane Dembele, who quickly hit his stride when collecting a Francisco Trincao ball and producing what looked to be Barca's fourth goal, but the effort was disallowed after a VAR review identified offside in the build-up.

The hosts did not have to wait long for another goal, though, with Messi unleashing an unstoppable strike which flew past Herrera in the 73rd minute.

The goal moved Messi to 641 goals for Barca - within two of equalling Pele's record tally for one club - and he marked the strike with his Maradona tribute.

The hosts threatened to add a fifth goal as time ran out, Dembele finding the side-netting and Messi pushing Herrera into an impressive save after a free-kick, but neither shot hit the mark.

Osasuna were unable to make any impact at the other end and the final whistle blew on an emphatic home win.

Top News

5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Chelsea's young attackers plying his trade on loan elsewhere has confirmed his desire to leave the club permanently this summer. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly approached Napoli to propose a player-plus-cash deal for their star striker Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The entourage of Erik ten Hag have reportedly been contacted by one of Europe's leading clubs amid the Dutchman's uncertain future with Manchester United. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah achieved an unprecedented Premier League feat in the Reds' 4-2 success over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou was pleased to see his side look more like their usual selves in their 4-2 hammering at the hands of Liverpool at Anfield. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are sweating over the fitness of Eric Dier for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, while Raphael Guerreiro has been ruled out with an ankle issue. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool survive a late Tottenham fightback to keep their title hopes alive in a 4-2 win. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have revealed that central defender Harry Maguire will be out for approximately three weeks due to a muscular problem. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi enjoyed a record-breaking night in Inter Miami's 6-2 win over New York Red Bulls. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has said that his club will "try everything" to keep Jadon Sancho beyond the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Radu Dragusin's agent has hinted the Tottenham Hotspur defender could leave the club due to his lack of playing time. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Las Palmas attacker Alberto Moleiro. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be bidding to avoid an unwanted first when they head to Selhurst Park on Monday evening to tackle Crystal Palace in the Premier League. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that his players must find a way to 'keep their momentum going' if they are to have a chance of securing European qualification after thrashing West Ham United by a 5-0 scoreline. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Joao Pedro scored a late winner to guide Brighton & Hove Albion to a narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have risen into seventh position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 5-0 victory over West Ham United at Stamford Bridge. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have both been named in the Liverpool starting lineup for their Premier League showdown with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to use Harry Maguire as a makeweight in a move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite during this summer's transfer window. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly keen to move for Liverpool's Darwin Nunez this summer, viewing the Uruguay international as the ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly 'still waiting' for offers to arrive for Antony, with the Red Devils yet to receive a 'concrete approach' for the Brazil international. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have made one change for Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United, while Mauricio Pochettino is able to welcome six players back to his squad. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to book their spot in the final of the Champions League when they welcome Bayern Munich to Bernabeu for the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic will make wholesale changes to his XI for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique will be forced into a defensive alteration for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Made to pay for missed opportunities in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain seek to right their German wrongs in Tuesday's return battle with Borussia Dortmund. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has heavily criticised his side for their performance in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Catalan rivals Girona in Spain's top flight. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly miss out on the chance to sign Real Madrid centre-back Nacho this summer, with the Spaniard said to be preparing to continue his career in North America. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly keen to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager this summer, with the Dutchman potentially losing his job at Manchester United. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Kasimpasa (Sunday, 2.00pm) Two sides vying for a top-four finish in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head when Istanbul Basaksehir host Kasimpasa at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Sunday afternoon.