The year is 2010, and Barcelona is in the Champions League quarterfinal against Arsenal. Pep Guardiola is hoping to clinch the title once again through his super team. Arsene Wenger dreams of leading Arsenal to their first-ever Champions League title. Lionel Messi shatters his dreams by scoring four goals in the second leg, sending Barcelona to the semifinal, where they face Mourinho’s Porto.
1st leg
Barcelona were looking good to secure a 2-0 win at the Emirates and put the fixture to bed. Two goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and all was going to plan until Arsene Wenger introduced Theo Walcott as a second-half sub. He turned the game around by pulling one back and then Cesc Fabregas levelled the score from the penalty spot after the sending off of Carles Puyol.
Messi takes over and brings Barca level
Barcelona now needed a win at the Camp Nou to secure a place in the last 4 of the Champions League as playing for a draw would be too risky. Arsenal were a formidable opponent in those times and they proved it instantly when Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 18th minute. Arsene Wenger’s side were now winning 3-2 on aggregate and Barcelona was in need of goals.
Messi took charge of the game after that, playing a little more deep than the 1st leg. After receiving a pass from Pedro he aimed a through ball at Xavi. The pass got intercepted by Mikael Silvestre and rebounded back to Messi who smashed it past Arsenal’s keeper Almunia.
2-1! Barca takes the lead!
With the game tied once again, Wenger’s side was forced to play a riskier game, which ended up opening spaces for the hosts. The second goal for Barcelona came when Messi played a through ball to Eric Abidal. The Frenchman attempted a cutback, which was partially cleared and came to Pedro, who played in the path of the running Messi. La Pulga went around a defender and chipped it over Almunia to give Barca the lead.
A first-half Hat-trick for Messi!
Messi secured an astonishing first-half hat-trick after a defender missed a header. The ball went through to Messi, who ended up being 1 on 1 with the keeper. Messi audaciously chipped it over Almunia again, making it 5-3 on aggregate.
They’re trying to contain him but it’s an impossible task!
The cherry on the cake was the fourth goal which came after Messi went through most of Wenger’s defensive line and took a shot at the near left post. Almunia saved it at first but unluckily for him, it rebounded back to the Argentinian who took another shot. This time it went through Almunia’s legs and into the net. La Pulga completed one of the best individual performances in the tournament’s history and convinced Arsene Wenger he is the greatest to ever play the game.
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