TNT Sports
Super sub Messi strikes to hand Barcelona title
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Published 27/04/2019 at 14:23 GMT+1
La Liga, Camp Nou - Barcelona 1 (Messi 62') Levante 0
Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates winning La Liga with the trophy
Image credit: Reuters
Lionel Messi came off the bench to score Barcelona’s winner against Levante, delivering an eighth Spanish Liga title in 11 years for the Catalan club.
With one eye on next week’s Champions League semi final against Liverpool, Ernesto Valverde decided to rest Messi and Sergio Busquets. However, Barcelona needed their main man in the second half and he delivered the decisive moment.
Barcelona had chances to open the scoring in the first half, with Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez coming particularly close. Coutinho looked the liveliest for the Catalans, striking the woodwork with an exceptional free-kick just before the break.
However, it was Coutinho was came off to be replaced by Messi and the Argentine broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, squeezing a finish underneath Aitor Fernandez after cutting inside on to his left foot in trademark fashion.
Levante came back into the match as Barcelona started to show some nerves, but the Catalans got over the line. They can now focus on the Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool without distractions.
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Arturo Vidal of FC Barcelona gives his team instructions during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at Camp Nou on April 27, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT - Barcelona’s dominance of La Liga cannot be understated
Eight Liga titles in 11 years. In a crowded field, Barcelona have become the dominant force of the Spanish game over the past decade. This particular title win felt inevitable for a long time, with neither Atletico nor Real Madrid anywhere near good enough to mount a challenge, but the achievement of this team shouldn’t be understated. This is a golden age for Barcelona and they deserve their moment.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
Is it possible that Coutinho is finally starting to come to the boil as a Barcelona player? The Brazilian has struggled for form all season long, but has been quietly improving in recent weeks, with his first half performance his best display of the campaign so far. It was therefore cruel that Coutinho was the one hooked at half time for Messi to come on. He deserved better from his manager.
PLAYER RATINGS
Barcelona: Ter Stegen 5, Semedo 6, Pique 6, Lenglet 5, Alba 7, Rakitic 7, Vidal 6, Arthur 6, Dembele 6, Suarez 7, Coutinho 8. Subs - Messi 8, Busquets 5, Roberto 5.
Levante: Fernandez 7, Coke 5, Vezo 6, Pier 6, Luna 6, Campana 5, Vukcevic 5, Jason 5, Rochina 5, Simon 5, Mayoral 6. Subs - Morales 6. Bardhi 5, Roger 4.
KEY MOMENTS
2’ An early chance! That could have been an early opener for Barcelona. Suarez was presented with the shooting chance, but from a tight angle his low strike was saved by Fernandez at the near post.
8’ Opportunity for Lenglet! The Barcelona centre back might have found the back of the net with that chance. The cross from Coutinho was a good one, but Lenglet's glancing header flashes wide.
21’ Suarez... saved! Did the Barcelona striker take too long to get his shot away? Suarez took one touch more than was necessary and that closed he angle for him. Fernandez saves the toe poke.
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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates his goal during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 27, 2019.
Image credit: Getty Images
29’ Coutinho should score! What an opportunity that was for the Barcelona number seven. The cross for Coutinho, who was unmarked, was perfect, but he heads tamely straight at Fernandez in the Levante goal!
40’ Off the crossbar! How much closer can Coutinho get? The Brazilian playmaker got the shot up and over the Levante wall, but the strike comes back off the top of the bar and over. So close!
59’ Almost a Rakitic stunner! That would have been a magnificent goal from the Croatian midfielder. He attempted to guide a curling, right-footed strike into the far corner of the net, but it flashes just wide.
62’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Levante: Finally, it's an opener for Barcelona and I don't have to tell you who grabbed it. Vidal played the ball to Messi inside the box, the Argentinean took the touch inside and squeezed a low finish underneath Fernandez! Barcelona are edging closer to yet another Liga championship!
64’ Big chance for Mayoral! That could, and perhaps should, have been an equaliser for Levante! Morales played a lovely cushioned through ball for Mayoral, but Ter Stegen came out to smother the shot from the striker!
69’ That was a sitter! Levante should be level here! Barcelona lost the ball about 20 yards out, allowing Morales clean through on goal. But the Levante captain gets it all wrong and skews his shot well wide.
90’ Unbelievable! Off the post! How did that not go in?! The Barcelona title party was very nearly cancelled there as Levante hit the inside of the post. The ball bounces back up and into the hands of Ter Stegen!
KEY STATS
Levante became only the third team in La Liga this season to fail to register a single shot on goal or make a single touch in the opposition box in the first half of a match.
Lionel Messi has scored 24 goals as a substitute in La Liga, more than any other player in the 21st century.
Barcelona have won the Spanish Liga title in eight of the last 11 years.
Messi became the first non-Spanish player in La Liga history to win 10 titles
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