PSV Eindhoven vs Barcelona: 5 takeaways | UEFA Champions League 2018-19

#1 Messi is not messing around in the Champions League

Point towards the sky Lionel, we'll always point towards you

In his speech in the Joan Gamper Trophy match, Lionel Messi said a sentence that would give hope to every Barcelona fan in the world. He said, and I quote, "We will do what we can to bring the Champions League back to Camp Nou".

From the minute the referee blew his opening whistle against PSV on Matchday 1 to the moment he blew his whistle against PSV to end the game on Matchday 5, Messi has been relentless. He said that his team would try, and he is trying, no matter what.

He started the campaign with a perfect 10 performance against PSV with a hat-trick. He followed it up in Wembley with a brace and a mesmeric through ball for the opening goal. In the process, he earned a perfect 10 again. After he sustained the injury, he came back yesterday against PSV and saved his team again. Involved in both goals, scoring one of them.

His goal was near-fictional, to say the least. The close control of the ball, continuing the dribble and finishing with intent, it was magical. The second goal seemed another brilliant piece of skill. The free-kick perfectly bent towards Pique, who tapped in unmarked. Messi though, admitted in his press conference that the free-kick was inadvertent. Even his unintentional skill seems like a piece of genius.

He ended up with a 9.5 in yesterday's match. 4 out of 6 shots on target, one goal, one assist, 5 key passes but only 2 dribbles, although with a 100 percent success rate, this sums up Messi against PSV.

He is the joint topper in goal tally with Lewandowski, having missed two games. When Messi has played, he has contributed to 60 percent of Barcelona's goals.

He said he would try to bring the trophy back, he is not messing around. Magical.