Barcelona 4-0 PSV match report: Champions League 2018/19 Group B
Barcelona dispatched a potentially dangerous PSV, thanks a Leo Messi scored a hat-trick and a superb goal from Dembélé. Umtiti was sent for for two yellow cards.
Barcelona vs PSV match report:
Messi said he wanted this Champions League and led by example this evening as Barcelona launched their 2018/19 European campaign with a 4-0 win over PSV, who were maybe unlucky to receive such a punishing, but then that’s the risk of playing the best, with a strike force who can hurt you at any opportunity. Messi’s fine hat-trick was added to by a super goal from Dembélé.
Valverde put out his strongest XI, with Coutinho making his European debut having been cup-tied last season having played for Liverpool before his winter move. The Brazilian stood out from the first as an incisive element in Barça’s attacking football, his vision forced PSV do something they don’t like and aren’t used to: chase the ball.
But the Dutch side hadn’t come to the Camp Nou to defend. Every time they managed to get the ball back they used their pace down the wings to try and surprise Barcelona. Pereiro and Bergwijn both forced Ter Stegen into respective saves and Barcelona realised they had a game on their hands, and began to get stuck in, with Alba and Dembélé both involved. The young French striker has a turn of speed that can leave opponents bewildered, and he produced a run just after half an hour that left PSV players in its wake until Viergever decided to upend the Barça man to stop the danger. Alas the free-kick was right in Messi territory and the Argentinean didn’t take his eyes off the postage stamp in the top right corner until he’d seen the ball hit the back of the net. A superb strike.
Barcelona might have felt that their star man had unlocked the game for them, but PSV came out in the second half determined to show they can surprise any side. Van Bommel’s men turned the match into an end to end battle with chances at both ends, Ter Stegen saving wonderfully from Angelino and Suárez landing a neat chip on the top of the cross-bar. And then Dembélé decided it was his turn: he picked the ball up in centre some way from the box, beat two men with a remarkable change of pace and curled a delightful effort past Zoet and into the far bottom corner. That’s his fifth of the season.
With PSV befuddled in the aftermath Messi stepped up to grab the third with a wonderful half-volley in the box, and although Umtiti got his marching orders for a second yellow (blatant obstruction on Lonzano) there was still time for Messi to grab his hat-trick. He wants this Champions League.
Barcelona vs PSV live feed:
Barcelona vs PSV preview:
Barcelona kick off their Champions League campaign against PSV Eindhoven at the Nou Camp this evening, in the all new time slot of 18:55 CEST.
After a summer spending spree on Arturo Vidal, Arthur, Clement Lenglet and Malcom, Valverde’s men have had the perfect start to the LaLiga, with five wins from five, and will be expected to get their Champions League off to a winning start at home against the Dutch club.
Having exited the competition at the quarter-final stages over the past three seasons, Barcelona will be determined to match their heroics of 2015 when they lasted lifted to Europe’s top club prize. Stopping fierce rivals and other firm favorites Real Madrid from winning a fourth consecutive Champions League title will also be strong motivation for Messi and Co.
PSV have also had the perfect start to the Dutch league with five wins from five. There has been no shortage of goals for the Dutch side, who have averaged more than four a game in the league so far. They’ll be hoping strikers Hirving Lozano and Steven Bergwijn can add to their respective tallies of six and five goals. A draw at the Nou Camp would be considered an almost perfect start for Mark Van Bommel’s side, who have their work cut out in a tough group with the LaLiga titleholders, Inter Milan and Tottenham.