BARCELONA, SPAIN – Lionel Messi scored his 600th goal as he got two in a 3-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal.
A first half goal from former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and a second half brace from Messi is what it took for the hosts to get a big lead to take to England.
The Argentine got his second of the game in the 82nd minute when he curled a long-range free kick into the top left corner which was unstoppable for Alisson Becker.
Messi gave Barcelona a two-goal advantage in the 75th minute when Suarez’s effort hit the crossbar and rebounded to the Argentine who tapped into the empty net as he captained the side for the 100th time.
The first goal came in the 26th minute after Liverpool arguably had the better start to the game when Jordi Alba crossed the ball to Suarez, the Uruguayan striker lost his marker and tapped home.
Barcelona had a penalty call when the ball bounced up and hit Joel Matip’s hand, but nothing was given.
Naby Keita was forced off with a suspected groin injury before the goal and was replaced by Jordan Henderson in the midfield.
Liverpool’s best chance of the half came in the 34th minute when Mohamed Salah found Sadio Mane open in the box but the Senegalese international’s effort went over the bar.
The hosts went into the halftime interval leading 1-0, limiting the Reds to not a single shot on target.
Liverpool were missing the threat down the right-hand side with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench as Joe Gomez started his first game since December.
Jurgen Klopp’s side started the second half off well; a minute in James Milner had a chance but his curling shot was parried away by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Salah was next to go close when his low driven shot was on its way into the bottom left corner, but the German goalkeeper got down well to get a strong hand to the ball.
The Blaugrana were put up to the test for the majority of the second half, but two late goals means they’ll head to Anfield next Tuesday with a 3-0 advantage as they will hope to reach the final and meet Ajax or Tottenham.
Starting lineups:
FC Barcelona: ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, Vidal, Rakitic; Messi, Suarez, Coutinho.
Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Milner; Salah, Mane, Wijnaldum.
Pierre's Footy Talk 