Messi, Tello pick apart Levante defense
Print Edition
Lionel Messi marked his 400th game for Barcelona with a master class of passing by setting up four goals as Cristian Tello scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win at Levante in Wednesday’s first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal.
Denied by the hosts in the first half, Messi withdrew into midfield to turn playmaker and place four precise passes behind the defense that led to an own goal in the 53rd minute and Tello’s goals in the 60th, 81st and 86th.
Levante had held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium just four days earlier in the Spanish league, and took the lead after Nabil El Zhar netted in the 31st.
But Messi again showed he is much more than Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 331 goals by exploiting Tello’s speed down the left flank with well-timed passes.
“It’s spectacular to have a player like Messi on your side,” said Tello. “All four goals came from his boots.”
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said: “Our first half worried me, but we have players that don’t need 45 minutes to turn the match around.”
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez scored twice to help earn a 3-1 victory at home over Racing Santander in their opening leg.
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