Sports
Messi pays tribute to Maradona as Barcelona thrash Osasuna 4-0
Argentine star Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona as Barcelona thrashed Osasuna 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
The Catalans netted two goals apiece in both halves courtesy Martin Braithwaite, Antoine Greizmann, Philippe Coutinho and Maradona’s heir, Messi.
Ronald Koeman’s men dominated the game with 72-28% possession and 20(11 on target) shots against the visitor’s 10(5 on target) attempts.
Braithwaite opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a scramble in a crowded box of the visitors saw the ball ricochet from his left knee to the net despite a double save by Osasuna keeper, Herrera.
Greizmann was able to dance again after Moncayola cleared Alba’s cross, allowing him to fire a stunning volley from outside the box to make it 2-0 as Herrera stood still and watched the ball fly into the net in the 42nd minute.
Brazillian midfielder, Coutinho finally got his goal in the 57th minute of the second half after missing at least two clear-cut chances.
Griezmann squares the ball to the former Liverpool star and he tapped the ball in from close range to make it 3-0 for the home side.
Playmaker, Messi got his goal in the 73rd minute as he takes the ball past the defender on the edge of the box before drilling his shot past Herrera and into the far top corner of the net.
The 33-year-old celebrated his goal with a tribute to the late football icon, Maradona and was booked for taking his shirt off during the celebration.
Messi wore a Newell’s Old Boys shirt with Diego Maradona’s number 10 boldly crested on the back.
Maradona who died of cardiac arrest on November 25th played for Newell’s Old Boys at the tail end of his careers between 1993–1994, making just five appearances and scored no goal before joining Boca Juniors afterwards.
Coincidentally, his heir, Messi, began his footballing career at Newell’s Old Boys where he played from 1994-2004 before joining Barcelona in 2001. He has gone on to win six Ballon d’Or awards since then.
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