Lionel Messi scores a double as Barcelona takes over Girona in a friendly match
Messi scored two goals clenching a 3-1 victory over second-tier Girona, in Barcelona’s second training match since Koeman took over as coach.
Barcelona, Spain:
Argentine Footballer Lionel Messi scored twice on Wednesday 16th September as Barcelona beated second-division Girona 3-1 in a friendly match.
Messi guided Philippe Coutinho for his first goal after 21 minutes of the start of the game. Messi scored his first goal after 45 minutes, turning around on the edge of the penalty area and smashing a stroke in a slightly away post. He scored his second after 50 minutes with a deflected shot.
Messi came back to the training at the start of last week after stating that he wanted to leave the club. Messi played in Barcelona’s first friendly on Saturday, playing for 45 minutes with no goal in a 3-1 victory over third-tier Gimnastica Tarragona.
On Wednesday, La Liga president Javier Tebas stated he was pleased after Messi stayed at Barcelona. Tebas said “Messi is important for our competition. He is a player who was born in our competition and hopefully he will finish his career in our league.”
Barcelona made use of 20 players in Wednesday’s game at Barcelona’s training centre but no one between Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez and Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal turned up.
Manager Ronald Koeman said after the game he had talked to Suarez and acknowledged Barcelona would not sell him. Koeman said “If finally he does not find a team and ends up staying, he will be one more player for the squad.”
Barcelona will start their league campaign on 27th or 26th September at odds with Villarreal.