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La Liga | Gameweek 1
Aug 18, 2018 at 9.15pm UK
 
Alaves logo

3-0

Messi (64', 90'), Coutinho (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Ernesto Valverde: "Genius" Lionel Messi still surprises me

Valverde:
© Reuters
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde says that "there is still room for Lionel Messi to surprise us" following the superstar forward's latest goalscoring double.

Ernesto Valverde has described Lionel Messi as a "genius" and admits that he is still blown away by the Barcelona forward's brilliance.

Messi struck twice for the Catalan giants as they saw off Alaves 3-0 at Camp Nou in their opening La Liga game of the season on Saturday evening.

The Argentina international's latest double, including a smart free kick under the opposition wall, brought up a milestone 6,000th top-flight goal for Barca - 385 of which he is responsible for.

Speaking after the opening-day victory against a stubborn Alaves, Valverde told reporters: "Messi is a genius. We're lucky to be able to see him every day. We're lucky to be involved in football during the era in which he is playing - we want him to pull a rabbit from the hat every day.

"There's still room for Messi to surprise us. He always surprises you - he never ceases to amaze me, honestly. You have to be ready to expect anything from Messi because he sees what no one else sees."

Messi has been named Barcelona captain for the 2018-19 season following Andres Iniesta's move to Japan.

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Barcelona forward Lionel Messi in action during the La Liga clash with Real Madrid on May 6, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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