Lionel Messi helped Barcelona get a victory over Valencia during the weekend with a hat-trick. The 3-2 victory for Barcelona could have easily become a defeat had it not been for the brilliance of Lionel Messi and also new signing Neymar. There have been several doubts as to whether the two players can play in the same team, but manager Gerardo Martino revealed that this match shows more than anything else that they can play in the same team without any problem. Neymar was excellent, while Messi was absolutely brilliant as usual.
Neymar set up Messi for the hat trick to get Barcelona 3-0 up in the match. It looked like comfortable sailing for the Catalan giants, but they conceded two goals to Helder Postiga, who was brought in as a replacement for Roberto Soldado. This setup an intense final few minutes because Valencia threatened a lot to equalise and steal a point away from the Camp Nou. Barcelona, though, held on for the victory and they have now won all the opening matches of the season. They are one of the four teams to have this record after three games of the season.
Martino did admit that Barcelona did have a few problems when the ball was played into the penalty box.
“Yesterday there were doubts about the Messi and Neymar connection after their first game together. Things have been solved within 24 hours. It is true that in the second half we could have increased the difference. But at the same time Valencia hit the woodwork and that’s what concerns me most. I don’t think we’ve had a lack of control because we knew they would use their height. I believe that had the outcome have been different, I would still have been satisfied,” said Martino after the match.