By Daily sports on November 8, 2020
Half-time substitute Lionel Messi turned the game around for Barcelona as they beat Real Betis for a first La Liga win in five games.
Ousmane Dembele gave Barca the lead with a powerful effort and Antoine Griezmann had a penalty saved.
Antonio Sanabria smashed home an equaliser just before half-time.
But Messi came on at the break and had a hand in Griezmann’s equaliser and scored twice himself before teenager Pedri hit a late fifth.
The Barca captain dummied Alba’s pass, taking two defenders and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo out of the equation, to leave Griezmann with a tap-in.
He then put Barca ahead from the penalty spot after Aissa Mandi was sent off for handling Dembele's shot on the line – a decision made after a lengthy video assistant referee review.
Messi played a one-two with Sergi Roberto, who backheeled the ball into his path and he smashed it into the roof of the net.
That was his first goal of the season for club or country which was not a penalty. The previous six had all been from the spot.
He thought he had a hat-trick afterwards but his goal was disallowed for a Roberto offside.
It was a much needed win for Ronald Koeman, whose side had only picked up two points from the previous four league games.
They move up to eighth, one point behind Real Betis. (BBC)
•PHOTO: Lionel Messi
Source Daily sports
Posted November 8, 2020
You may also like...
Ronaldo ‘Approves’ Man Utd Signing
Liverpool, Chelsea through to third round
Barcelona Prepare To Sack Umtiti
Victorious Paralympics Team Arrive, Minister Praises Athletes, Officials...
Spain Boss Plans To Rotate De Gea and...
Gerrard says he can make Rangers fans happy...

NPFL: Rangers win big as Nasarawa shock Abia
Nigeria know World Table Tennis Champs foes today
Bayelsa athletics boss Oredipe maps out dev plans
Falcons stars dominate IFFHS Africa XI
Eguavoen backs NPFL talents for Nigeria squad despite CHAN failure
He’s very strong, Simeone returns Osimhen praise
Joshua boxing return still uncertain
NBA star Bane eyes Nigeria switch
Palmer 'very, very happy' at Chelsea, says Rosenior
AFCON 2025: VAR recording discloses what referee said before Morocco's penalty miss against Senegal
AFCON 2025 highlights: World-class stadiums, VAR drama, record attendance
Oliseh slams Osimhen for costing Eagles’ AFCON trophy
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,494 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,788 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,684 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,345 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,277 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,188 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,054 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,608 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,787 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,315 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,704 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,173 views)