Barcelona Adjusts to Life Without Lionel Messi After 3-0 Win Over Juventus : SOCCER : Sports World News

news7g10/29/2021

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Barcelona Adjusts to Life Without Lionel Messi After 3-0 Win Over Juventus : SOCCER : Sports World News

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Barcelona Adjusts to Life Without Lionel Messi After 3-0 Win Over Juventus

Barcelona’s gamers have a good time their second purpose through the 56th Joan Gamper Trophy pleasant soccer match between Barcelona and Juventus on the Johan Cruyff Stadium in Sant Joan Despi close to Barcelona on August 8, 2021. (Picture : PAU BARRENA/AFP through Getty Pictures)

FC Barcelona began life with out soccer icon Lionel Messi on a profitable be aware, beating Juventus, 3-0, on Sunday evening to seize the Gamper Trophy. Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite, and Riqui Puig starred for the Catalan giants, who’re nonetheless reeling with the sudden departure of their talismanic captain.

The Gamper match is normally a joyous event for Barcelona followers, with the membership utilizing this contest to unveil its squad for the upcoming season. This 12 months’s version proved to be bittersweet because the pre-season encounter got here simply hours earlier than an emotional Messi bade farewell to Barcelona in a information convention, saying goodbye to the membership the place he spent 21 years.

Messi remembered in pre-season match

What was alleged to be the most recent chapter between soccer greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi become a nostalgic affair with followers reminiscing the occasions that they had with the Argentine captain. Round 2,600 followers attended the match on the Johan Cruyff Stadium, with shouts of Messi, Messi ringing across the stadium earlier than the beginning of the sport.

Their voices received even louder when the tenth minute of the competition arrived, screaming Messi’s identify as a tribute to Barcelona’s most well-known No. 10 and the membership’s all-time main scorer. Additionally they known as his identify at any time when Ronaldo touched the ball within the match. It is unbelievable to assume that the upcoming La Liga marketing campaign will not have Messi and Ronaldo after years of battles waged within the Gran Clasico between Actual Madrid and Barcelona.

Barcelona was lacking a number of key gamers because of accidents, together with Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, who remained dedicated to the membership regardless of his shut good friend’s imminent switch to PSG. Aguero injured his proper calf throughout coaching and will face a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Eric Garcia and Pedri, each anticipated to play key roles within the squad subsequent season with Messi now gone, have been on Olympic responsibility for Spain. Supervisor Ronald Koeman determined to make the most of a 4-3-3 formation towards Juventus with Memphis, Braithwaite, and Antoine Griezmann main the assault.

Associated Article: Emotional Lionel Messi Announces Exit From Barcelona as PSG Transfer Moves Ever Closer

No Messi, no downside for Barcelona towards Juventus

That paid dividends instantly, with Barca taking a 1-0 lead within the third minute. Barcelona launched a fast counter-attack with Yusuf Demir teeing up Memphis, who blasted a left-footed strike previous Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny.

Neto helped protect Barca’s benefit, making two very important saves on both aspect of the half. He produced an exquisite save on Alvaro Morata’s highly effective left-footed effort and needed to stretch totally to disclaim Ronaldo’s 30-yard free kick earlier than the half-time break. Neto then thwarted Juve substitute Federico Chiesa after the break to maintain the rating at 1-0.

That proved expensive for Juve as Barca doubled their lead within the 57th minute with Braithwaite, the goal-scorer. Barcelona ended the sport in model with Puig firing a left-footed shot into the highest nook for the ultimate rating of 3-0.