Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi’s first ever four-goal haul saw holders Barcelona reach the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday in a 4-1 defeat of English side Arsenal in their quarter-final second leg clash to win 6-3 on aggregate.
The 22-year-old world player of the year — who went into the match with three hat-tricks already this year — destroyed Arsenal after Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner had briefly given the visitors hope with the opening goal.
Bendtner scored on the counter-attack after 18 minutes, but then Messi stole the show with a hat-trick before half-time and a late strike two minutes before the end with Arsenal already beaten.
PHOTO: AFP
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose Arsenal side had lost to Barcelona in the 2006 final, was gracious in defeat.
“Congratulations to Barcelona, they were the better side,” the thoughtful Frenchman said. “We lost to the better team and the best player in the world [Messi]. Over the two legs we gave away cheap goals, defensively we gave them the goals when they weren’t looking dangerous. But Messi — when he gets the ball — is unstoppable, he can change direction at any time.”
Wenger’s Barcelona counterpart Pep Guardiola paid a handsome tribute to Messi, but also reserved praise for the rest of the team especially the central defensive pairing of Mexican veteran Rafael Marquez and Gabriel Milito, who filled in for suspended first choice pair Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol.
“I would like to congratulate the team and the club,” the former Barcelona playmaker said. “It is the fourth semi-final in five years, the third in a row. Messi is a special player, on a different level. But Rafa [Marquez] played with a lot of intensity, Gaby [Milito] as well. Other players played really well even if they won’t grab the headlines in the newspapers.”
Messi for his part was typically humble.
“I am delighted with this victory,” said Messi, whose four goals took his total to 119 for Barcelona.
“However, we have to carry on our work. We have a really important match on Saturday. We have to win there even if it is just by one goal,” he said, referring to the match against Real Madrid who lead them in the title race on goal difference.
Following Arsenal’s dramatic come-back to finish 2-2 in the first leg, the return at the Nou Camp was eagerly awaited and the anticipation ahead of the game was in no way dampened by the number of key players absent.
The surprise news before kick-off was that Mikael Silvestre was chosen ahead of Sol Campbell to partner Thomas Vermaelen in defense, while for Barcelona as expected Bojan Krkic was given the nod to play in attack, ahead of former-Gunner hero Thierry Henry.
Arsenal took the lead in practically their first attack. Theo Walcott, such a danger for the Barca defense in the first-leg, burst clear down the right wing and crossed for Bendtner.
While the Dane’s shot was smothered at close range by keeper Victor Valdes, Bendtner was up first to slot the ball home.
The 98,000 capacity crowd was stunned into silence, but they needn’t have worried because in Messi they have a player with exceptional talent who rose to the occasion.
Just two minutes later with the Arsenal defense failing to clear their lines, the Argentine fired the ball past the outstretched arms of Manuel Almunia.
Messi had moved up a gear and put Barca into the lead after 36 minutes. Having been set up 12 yards out by Pedro Rodriguez, he slipped past Gael Clichy before scoring from close range.
It was almost a single-handed performance as Messi latched onto a header from Seydou Keita in midfield and through on goal clipped the ball over the keeper for the third.
Guardiola brought on Yaya Toure to strengthen the midfield, but their concentration on defense led to them taking their foot off the pedal.
Except for a shot soon after the break, Messi faded from the game and Arsenal had the majority of the better chances and actually had themselves to blame for not getting back in the game.
Bendtner was too often the culprit with his slow movement allowing Rafa Marquez to clear on one occasion and then he hit the post with a clear header from point blank range, although he was judged off side.
As the Barca defense dozed, Tomas Rosicky too stole in but blazed over the crossbar.
Messi, though, wrapped up his match-winning performance by tucking the ball past Almunia from a tight angle.
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