Super-sub Messi leads Barcelona comeback against Betis
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) challenges Real Betis’ Spanish defender Victor Ruiz and Real Betis’ Spanish defender Alex Moreno (C) during the Spanish league football match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona at the
Lionel Messi scored his fastest league goal as a substitute as his strike 136 seconds after coming on inspired Barcelona to a 3-2 victory over Real Betis on Sunday.
Messi was among several key players rested, with Ronald Koeman seemingly prioritising Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Sevilla ahead of Barca’s fading title challenge in La Liga.
Defeat would have called that decision into question but Messi drove in an equaliser less than three minutes after coming on in the second half and then helped set up Francisco Trincao to score a late winner, the 21-year-old’s first goal for Barcelona.
“He changed the game,” said Koeman, when asked about Messi.
“It’s a bit about the cup game but we also have to decide when the best moment is to rest players. The cup is the shortest route to a title this season.”
Source : The Guardian
