On May 1, 2019, Barcelona went up against Liverpool in the Champions League Semi-Finals 1st leg. This game was held at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi impressed the world by scoring an outclass free-kick against Liverpool’s rock-solid defense, showcasing why he is regarded as the “GOAT” of this sport.
The Buildup to the game
The game held high stakes as Barcelona reached the Champions League Semi-Final stage after 5 years, after their last Champions League Triumph in 2015. On the other hand, Liverpool was playing their second Semi-Final in a row as they were runner-ups in the 2018-19 Champions League campaign.
Both teams were in great form this season, Barcelona were looking to reclaim their European Glory and Liverpool were chasing their sixth Champions League title under Jürgen Klopp. The clash was full of excitement as the clash between both sides was a battle of attacking philosophies, featuring two of the most deadly trios in football.
Lineups
Both sides locked into the game with strong lineups. Barcelona was under coach Ernesto Valverde, who lined up the team in the following way: Marc-André ter Stegen started in goal, Barcelona’s back-line featured Sergi Roberto at right, Gerard Piqué and Clément Lenglet at the heart of defense at the center, and Jordi Alba controlling the left. The midfield trio for this game were Sergio Busquets at CDM, Ivan Rakitić, and Arturo Vidal. The frontline played consisted of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool were under the German Jürgen Klopp, and their lineup featured: Alisson Becker in goal. The youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip as center-backs, and Andrew Robertson at the left. Their midfield trio consisted of Fabinho, James Milner, and Naby Keïta, with an attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Georginio Wijnaldum.
The Free-kick
Barcelona dominated the game, securing the 3-0 victory at Camp Nou. For the first-half, the game was evenly contested with both sides fighting for possession. Liverpool created chances in the first-half but failed to capitalize the chances. Barcelona’s Luis Suarez broke the deadlock by scoring in the 26th minute with a brilliant finish off Jordi Alba’s cross. Lionel Messi doubled Barcelona’s lead in the second half by converting from a rebound off Suarez’s shot which hit the crossbar.
At 82′ minutes of the game, Lionel Messi delivered one of the most iconic moments in football history. Barcelona won a free-kick 30 yards from the goal, and Messi stood up to take the free-kick. With his eyes focused on the aim, Messi struck a perfect shot curling over the wall with pace and precision, slotting in the top left corner of the goal.
The Camp Nou erupted celebrating this iconic moment, whole social media was talking about this goal. This goal showcased Lionel Messi’s mastery of the game reaffirming his “GOAT” status. This goal also marked Messi’s 600th career goal for Barcelona, adding historical importance to his golden career.