Barcelona 4 Man City 0: Lionel Messi bags hat-trick on miserable return for Pep Guardiola
The man who created the footballing monster saw it chew Manchester City up and spit them out in the Nou Camp.
Lionel Messi’s stunning hat-trick and a late strike from Neymar made it an horrific homecoming for Guardiola as the Spanish giants cruised to a thumping Champions League win in this Group C clash.
The crushing defeat was the joint worst of Guardiola’s managerial career — in the stadium that made him the great he is today.
But there was nothing Guardiola could do to stop the Argentine genius — or the sheer stupidity of City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Bravo, returning to his former club, got himself sent off on 54 minutes after handling Luis Suarez’s shot well outside his penalty box, having gifted him the ball in the first place with a woeful pass.
Barca also finished the game with 10 men after substitute Jeremy Mathieu got sent off for two bookable offences.
But the night was all about Messi’s brilliance and Pep’s pain at seeing the keeper he signed in such controversial circumstances make a total hash of things on the biggest stage of all.
Guardiola, who also dropped a bombshell by leaving Sergio Aguero on the bench, sent Joe Hart packing so he could bring in Bravo — because the England №1’s footwork wasn’t good enough.
Guardiola is regarded as a genius, but some of his decisions since taking charge at the Etihad are starting to blow up his face.
This was such a chastising night for the Spanish boss, whose return to Catalonia was the equivalent of Barca’s favourite son going back and attempting to burgle his spiritual home.
But the only thing he returned to Manchester with was a massive headache after watching Messi rip his team to shreds.
Messi loves bashing English sides in the Champions League and was at it again here to remind Guardiola what a footballing genius he is.
The Argentine ace was unstoppable and the 37th hat-trick of his remarkable career took his goal tally to 15 in his last 13 outings against Premier League teams.
His efforts also smashed the 100 barrier of goals in 2016 from the famed trio of himself, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Guardiola sacrificed his most potent striker to flood midfield in a bid to starve Barca of the ball.
via:dailystar
