FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.09.2009 14:08

Super sub Messi

Edgar Fornós

Lionel Messi has once again shown how effective he can be coming off the bench for FC Barcelona as he repeated the trick after going on as a substitute to great effect five times last term too.

Against Getafe on Saturday the Argentinian was not named in the starting eleven, but entered the fray in the 58th minute to replace Jeffren. Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring for the Blaugrana before Messi himself then nodded home the second from close range.

First point of the season

Last term Messi helped Barça to win their first point of the season as he scored the penalty in a 1-1 draw against Racing Santander in Camp Nou on second week of the season after they had lost to Numancia seven day before.

Three points and goal number 5,000

Messi began the game in El Sardinero against Racing Santander too and after Nikola Zigic had put the hosts ahead he went on for Sergi Busquets and scored twice to give Barça their 5,000 league goal in the club's history.

Decisive in Europe

On both occasions that Messi was a substitute in the Champions League he went on and scored. Against Shalhtar his two goals saw the Blaugrana snatch all three points and he netted again against basel in Camp Nou to help push the team towards the quarter finals.