Daily Times

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven to kick-start the UEFA Champions League 2018-19 campaign on a winning note.

The Blaugranas opened the scoring via a Leo Messi free-kick which curled its way to the top-right corner. The goal was the only highlight of the first-half as there was not much to offer from both the sides except for a few chances here and there.

Late in the second half, however, the home team took advantage of the gaps in PSV’s defence, who were constantly attacking Barcelona to try and find a way to a goal.

Forward Ousmanne Dembele scored a curling effort from the left-side of the pitch to put Barcelona 2-0 up at minute 74, before captain Messi comfortably placed midfielder Ivan Rakitic’s lofted pass in the bottom-left corner, leaving the PSV goal-keeper answer-less.

The visitors’ misery did not end there as Messi again aimed at the bottom-left corner, this time with a perfectly timed and placed shot with his right foot.

With a win on Tuesday, Barca bagged vital three points in what many call the group-of-death that also includes Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur. Inter beat Tottenham 2-1 at San Siro, thanks to Mauro Icardi’s 85th minute equaliser and a late winner by Matias Vecino.

Barcelona’s next UCL fixture is against Tottenham at Wembley Stadium in London on October 4.