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Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona finally clicked as Leo Messi inspired a 5-1 win over Ferencváros to get the Dutchman’s Champions League campaign off to a winning start and dispel the memory of a lackluster 1-0 defeat at Getafe. The margin of victory will also hit a club that has been dejected for most of the new campaign in the arm. ahead of the first Clásico of the season against Real Madrid next weekend.
Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot and reached for two more Barça goals as the Argentinian put an unusually slow start to bed with his best performance of the season to date. The Barça captain has not yet scored in open play but the distribution of goals between Ansu Fati, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri will have pleased Koeman.
A lively cameo from the Frenchman was also timely with Barcelona taking on Real Madrid and Juventus in the space of a week. Dembélé’s run and pass for Pedri’s goal was a work of art and the kind of application that Koeman expects from the winger, who is playing for his future at Barcelona this season.
The victory was only marred by the expulsion of Gerard Piqué. Hit by speed by the electric Tokmac Nguen, the Barça defender threw the striker back and was shown a direct red that ruled him out against Juventus. Barca may well appeal on the grounds that a yellow could have been enough, but it was still a rookie mistake by a veteran with his team sailing 3-0.
Ihor Kaharatin scored from the penalty spot to give Ferencváros a consolation that also denied the excellent Neto another clean sheet.. But in a solid performance by the team in all respects, Koeman will also have noticed the growing confidence of his substitute goalkeeper before a few days of testing that will help answer some questions that before Tuesday’s victory the Dutchman may have preferred to postpone until later. of the international break.
