FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Liverpool in Barcelona, Spain, on May 1, 2019. Barcelona won 3-0. (Xinhua/Joan Gosa)
MADRID, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Leo Messi was the hero once again for FC Barcelona on Wednesday night as he scored two goals to give his side a 3-0 win at home to Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Barca led through Luis Suarez's first half goal, but were struggling in the second half against an excellent Liverpool side when Messi scored the second goal on the game in the 75th minute, poping up in the right place to put the ball into the net after Suarez hat hit the bar.
He then added a third with a spectacular free kick in the 82nd minute to give Barca a comfortable cushion to take to Liverpool's Anfield Stadium next week.
"We know Anfield will be difficult," said Messi on Spanish TV after the final whistle.
"We're happy with the game we have played today," he added,
The Argentinean admitted that Barca had been made to work hard against Liverpool, who pressured them high up the field and who missed chances to have scored at least one away goal.
"We played their game," said Messi, who explained Liverpool played "with a lot of pace and rhythm, while we are used to having the ball and making our rivals run."
He valued the fact Barca had not conceded a goal saying "keeping a clean sheet is important. "We were the better team in the first half, but in the second half they pressured us and we couldn't get out of our half, but we got the goals and it is a good advantage," said the forward.
The Barca captain also had a message for fans who had booed Philippe Coutinho when he was replaced by Nelson Semedo in the second half.
"We are at a moment of the season where we have to be more united than ever: players and fans. We have to take this forward together. There isn't long to go and we have to be united," said Messi.
