Messi bags brace as Barcelona demolish Lyon 5-1
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E-mail Xinhua, March 14, 2019
FC Barcelona advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League after a 5-1 win over Olympique Lyon, which was tougher than the final score might indicate.
Leo Messi (twice), Philippe Coutinho, Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele scored Barca's goals following a 0-0 draw from the first leg, but Barca suffered a few nervous moments in the second half after Lucas Trusart had left the French side just a goal from knocking Barca out on their home turf.
Barca coach Ernesto Valverde opted to include Arthur Melo in his side and Philippe Coutinho given another chance after Dembele was deemed not fit enough to start.
Barca controlled the ball in the opening minutes and visiting keeper, Anthony Lopes did well to tip away a Messi shot from outside the area.
The home side were in total control and earned a penalty after a neat pass from Messi saw Suarez caught by Denayer, allowing Messi to calmly clip the ball home in the 17th minute.
Moussa Dembele had Lyon's first chance a minute later, before a collision with Coutinho left Lopes needing several minutes treatment.
The keeper had to leave the pitch 11 minutes from halftime, but not before Ivan Rakitic had fired over and Suarez set up Coutinho to make it 2-0 with a simple tap in.
Lopes' replacement Mathieu Gorgelin then did well to save from Messi as Barca pegged Lyon back in their own half, limiting the French side's options of launching an attack.
It was nearly 3-0 a minute into the second half after Arthur teed up Messi, whose chip over Gorgelin was cleared off the line by the backtracking Marcelo.
However, the French side scored next with Lucas Trusart firing home after Barca failed to clear a corner. The goal was only given after the VAR checked to see if there was an offside in the buildup, but the video referee didn't spot what looked like a clear foul on Clement Lenglet.
Lyon gained confidence after the goal and Nabil Fekir fired wide as Barca looked shaky and Valverde replaced Coutinho with Dembele to give his side more pace up front.
Messi hadn't had his best night, but netted Barca's third of the night in the 78th minute after turning the defense both ways and although the keeper got a hand on his right foot shot, the ball had enough strength to limp over the line.
Three minutes later and it was 4-1 after Messi slipped the ball over for Pique to slide the ball into an empty net and Dembele added a fifth following another Messi pass following a counter-attack.
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