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Hat-trick hero Messi makes the extraordinary look routine: Valverde

Lionel Messi scored a record eighth Champions League hat-trick as Barcelona started their campaign with a 4-0 home win over PSV Eindhoven yesterday morning (Singapore time), although they had defender Samuel Umtiti sent off late in the second half .

The Spanish champions' all-time top scorer Messi broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute with an immaculate free-kick which he curled over the wall and into the top corner against a PSV side who had defended well and looked dangerous on the break.

But Barca demonstrated the gulf in class as the second half progressed and doubled their lead in the 75th minute with a curling strike from French forward Ousmane Dembele, who scored his fifth goal in six games in all competitions this season.

Messi got his second two minutes later when he turned Ivan Rakitic's dinked pass into the net with a flick of his boot.

The mood was briefly dampened when Barca defender Umtiti was dismissed in the 79th minute for a second yellow card before Messi completed his treble three minutes from time.

The Argentinian received another chipped pass, this time from Luis Suarez, and ruthlessly smashed the ball home.

EIGHT HAT-TRICKS

The strike completed eight trebles in Europe's top competition for Messi, one more than rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was scheduled to make his Champions League debut for Juventus this morning.

"Messi does extraordinary things and makes them look routine," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.

"We have to pinch ourselves to remind us that we are living through a unique era. When he stops playing, it will be difficult to find someone like him."

However, Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen insisted that there is more to his team than Messi.

He told the Madrid-based newspaper Marca: "Messi always turns up for us, everyone knows his level and nobody can compare to him.

"But while Leo always is fantastic, there are 10 other players in our team who helped us in this victory, too. We are a team and not just one individual."

PSV, coached by former Barca and Holland midfielder Mark van Bommel, had produced an admirable performance on their first visit to the Nou Camp in 21 years until they tired late on.

In the first half, they shut down most of Barca's attacks and plotted several spirited breaks and, after the interval, their Mexico international Hirving Lozano fired just over the bar.

Van Bommel thought his side were hard done by in conceding the free-kick from which Messi opened the scoring, but he also paid tribute to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

He said: "I don't think it was a foul but Messi put it in the net. For me, he's the best player in the world... But, overall, I think the scoreline was harsh on us." - REUTERS

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