Lionel Messi dedicated a goal to the late Diego Maradona on his return to the Barcelona team in a 4-0 romp against Osasuna on Sunday.
Messi, who had been rested for the 4-0 win against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday, scored the fourth goal and celebrated by revealing a Newell’s Old Boys shirt in Maradona’s honour, after he died at the age of 60 on Wednesday.
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Messi began his youth career at Newell’s before joining Barcelona and Maradona was on the books at the Rosario-based club at around the same time, toward the end of his playing career.
No words needed. pic.twitter.com/rHO9vS9aHW
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 29, 2020
Barca, who had begun the day 14th in La Liga, won comfortably with Martin Braithwaite, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho also on the scoresheet.
After scoring twice against Kiev in midweek, Braithwaite opened the scoring for Barca on his first La Liga start of the season with a scruffy goal in the 29th minute.
Griezmann doubled the hosts’ advantage on 42 minutes with a stunning volley from just inside the penalty area following Jon Moncayola‘s headed clearance.
And Coutinho, who had a shot cleared off the line early on, scored from close range in the 52nd minute following good combination play from Braithwaite and Griezmann.
Substitute Ousmane Dembele saw a goal chalked off for offside in the 69th minute as Barcelona found their stride, but minutes later Messi added the fourth for real with a shot from the edge of the box.
That win leaves Barcelona in seventh place, three points behind Real Madrid in fourth and nine behind leaders Real Sociedad with a game in hand.