Barcelona put eight past Huesca
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Updated 03/09/2018 at 00:06 GMT
La Liga, Camp Nou - Barcelona 8 (Messi 16', 61', Pulido OG 24', Suarez 39', 90' pen, Dembele 48', Rakitic 52', Alba 81') Huesca 2 (Cucho 3', Gallar 42')
Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembele (L) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and SD Huesca at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 2, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Barcelona overcame an early goal to put eight goals past Huesca, claiming a 8-2 victory with goals from Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.
Cucho gave the promoted side the lead after just three minutes on their first ever league visit to the Camp Nou, sticking out a leg to turn the ball past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. However, that only seemed to prod the hosts into action, with a strike from Messi and an own goal putting Barca in front.
Barca scored another through Suarez after 39 minutes only for Huesca to give themselves a lifeline before the half time break, with Alex Gallar gambling on a cross to finish from close range on the slide.
The second half was an extremely one-sided affair, though, with Barcelona scoring five times through Messi, Suarez, Rakitic, Alba and Dembele. This result sees the Catalans join Celta Vigo and Real Madrid at the top of the Liga table heading into the international break.
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SD Huesca's Colombian forward Cucho Hernandez (L) celebrates scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and SD Huesca at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 2, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT - Is Ousmane Dembele finding maturity at Barcelona?
The young Frenchman found it difficult at Barcelona last season, with injuries hampering him. Even when Dembele was fit, he looked like something of a misfit at the Camp Nou. But the former Borussia Dortmund winger is now a key part of Valverde’s side, as demonstrated by his impressive start to the new season. Dembele struggled in the first half, but composed himself ahead of a big second half. That showed how he is finding maturity, not just form.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Two goals, two assists, one off the woodwork and one penalty kick donated to Suarez. This was a magnificent performance from Messi, who had so much space to gallop into to put Huesca to the sword. The Argentina has started the 2018/19 season strongly, as he always does. Messi, as he so often is, was the standout performer on the pitch and could have found the net more than twice.
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Lionel Messi
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Barcelona - Ter Stegen 5, Roberto 5, Pique 6, Umtiti 5, Alba 7, Busquets 6, Rakitic 7, Coutinho 7, Messi 9, Suarez 8, Dembele . Subs - Vidal 6, Arthur 6, Lenglet 6.
Huesca - Werner 6, Miramon 5, Pulido 6, Etxeita 5, Luisinho 6, Musto 5, Melero 5, Gallar 6, Gomez 6, Longo 6, Cucho 6. Subs - Gurler 5, Semedo 5, Avila 5.
KEY MOMENTS
3’ GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Huesca: What a start from the promoted side on their first ever visit to Camp Nou! They have scored within just a few minutes, with Cucho getting the final touch after a cross gave Barcelona all kinds of problems at the back post.
16’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Huesca: Fantastic from Messi and Barcelona are back on level terms! He was surrounded by opposition defenders, but turned him to create the space inside the box and finds the far corner with a right-footed finish.
24’ GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Huesca: Oh dear. That's a shame for Huesca. Alba got to the byline, was looking for the cut back, but finds his cross diverted into his own net by Pulido. That's unfortunate for the visitors to the Camp Nou!
28’ TOP OF THE CROSSBAR! Close to a third goal for Dembele, who curls a right-footed strike towards the top corner of the net. But his effort clips the very top of the crossbar.
40’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Huesca: Well, that was a very lengthy VAR review, but the goal stands. They were checking if Alba was offside when the pass was played into Suarez to finish, but he was in line.
42’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-2 Huesca: What a crazy, crazy game at the Camp Nou! Huesca are back in this with a second goal. Gallar did so well to gamble on getting on the end of the cross from Gomez. Sloppy from Umtiti in defending that.
47’ OFF THE CROSSBAR! Oooft! Messi comes close to scoring his second and Barcelona's fourth, but from a tight angle his shot is saved by Werner and deflected up on to the woodwork.
48’ GOAL! Barcelona 4-2 Huesca: Dembele has restored Barcelona's two-goal cushion! The pass from Suarez was perfect and Dembele didn't even have to break his stride, finding the far corner of the net with a low finish.
52’ GOAL! Barcelona 5-2 Huesca: Two goals in the opening seven minutes of the second half. Rakitic is played the ball over on the left side of the box and he hammers a first time shot into the far corner of the net. What a finish!
62’ GOAL! Barcelona 6-2 Huesca: A sixth goal for Barcelona! The pass from Coutinho was excellent and opened up the pitch for Messi, who did the rest - surging into the empty space and sliding the low finish past Werner.
81’ GOAL! Barcelona 7-2 Huesca: It's SEVEN for Barcelona! Now, Alba is the one to add his name to the score sheet, with Dembele's pace starting the attack. Messi then sets up the left back for the chipped finish over the keeper.
91’ PENALTY KICK TO BARCELONA! Pique plays the ball forward for Suarez, who is taken out by Werner.
92’ GOAL! Barcelona 8-2 Huesca: Messi gives up the chance of a hat trick to hand the ball to Suarez, who converts from 12 yards out. Werner dives to his right and Suarez converts to his left. It's EIGHT for Barcelona.
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Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembele (L) is congratulated by Barcelona's French defender Samuel Umtiti after scoring the team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and SD Huesca at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcel
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Lionel Messi became the first player to reach 150 assists in La Liga in the 21st century.
- Jordi Alba has now made nine assists in La Liga since the start of last season, more than any other defender (nine).
- Barcelona are now unbeaten in their last 38 La Liga home games (won 32, drawn six).
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