MADRID (Spain): Lionel Messi scored a penalty in his first game since he threatened to quit Barcelona as Ronald Koeman began his tenure as coach by beating Villarreal 4-0 on Sunday.
Messi converted from the spot and it was the Argentinian’s cross that then forced Pau Torres into an own-goal, after an early double from the 17-year-old Ansu Fati had already put Barca in charge.
Fati became Spain’s youngest ever scorer earlier this month and the teenager, deployed on the left of the attacking trio, has now made an explosive start to the season for his club.
He fired Jordi Alba’s pull-back into the top corner and then drove a second inside the post after Philippe Coutinho was allowed to carry the ball forward and spread it wide.
Fati then won the penalty, his feet too quick for Mario Gaspar, and Messi slid in his first goal of the season before his cross, aimed for Sergio Busquets, was poked into Villarreal’s net by Pau.
Messi might have been watching on a few hours earlier as Suarez scored twice and set up another in a senasational 20-minute debut for Atletico.
