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#4 Messi the creator
Messi attempted 73 passes in the game, with 81% accuracy. He put in one cross and had 5 key passes to his name. Unfortunately for him, his teammates were very sloppy in front of goal and missed chances in tandem. Messi also attempted 9 long balls, completing 7 of them successfully. On any other day, he would have added at least a couple of assists to his name, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Messi regularly took the ball from the defense, kept it moving and switched flanks with ease.
With a stagnant midfield behind him, Messi took the creative responsibilities on his shoulders in the first half. It was only after Coutinho’s arrival that Barcelona had another notable creative outlet on the pitch. Messi looked sharp in possession and looks ready to be his usual creative self this season.
