Lyon 0-0 FC Barcelona: Hits and Flops | UEFA Champions League 2018-19

#1 Hit: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi under challenge by Marcelo, Lucas Tousart, and Houssem Aouar

A poor performance from the little man if we look at his standards. But there aren't many players on the pitch that you could say were better than this man. It is funny when we have to name him as a hit when he clearly was not at his best, but then again, who could we prefer over him?

He did everything possible, everything that he doesn't usually like to do, to get an away goal at France. From pressing the players early to dispossessing the wits out of Memphis Depay, Messi meant business from the starting whistle. His only problem yesterday was his finishing.

He missed a clear shot on target, one which he could and should have scored, in all honesty. But he was the one who created it in the first place with a beautiful ball to Alba. In fact, Messi was the one doing all the link-up play. Dembele was wasteful with his passes, Suarez doesn't need special mentions. Messi got dispossessed 4 times. Big stat.

But when you realize that in Arthur's absence, the midfield duo of Rakitic and Roberto made minimal efforts to get him the ball, you will change your point of view on that. Messi had to drop as deep as Busquets to get the ball and then he dribbled from there on to find Alba or Semedo or to go himself. He created the peach of a chance for Rakitic which he dragged wide. He created for Suarez which he wasted twice. Messi won 9 duels out of 15 yesterday.

If anything he could have done better, we repeat it was his finishing. He was wasteful with the chance that Alba created for him and with the two free-kicks that he won for himself. Still, Lyon's defense would remember the moment when they clattered into one another as the little man wriggled and tiptoes past them.