The post-Lionel Messi period started for Barcelona as followers chanted his identify within the stands and gamers overcame his absence on the sector.
Barcelona’s first season with out Messi in 17 years started on Sunday with a 4-2 win over Real Sociedad within the Spanish league, with over 20,000 crowds on the Camp Nou stadium paying tribute to the Argentine star and protesting towards the membership. Exhibited. to let him go.
Most followers chanted Messi’s identify out loud within the tenth minute, in reference to the quantity 10 jersey used on the membership. Many followers had been carrying or carrying Messi jerseys, and several other banners honored the playmaker.
“Forever grateful to Messi,” learn one in every of them.
However, there have been additionally some pranks towards Messi, who was already in France with Paris Saint-Germain after Barcelona failed to supply him a brand new contract resulting from their monetary struggles. Some followers most popular to chant “Barca, Barca” as an alternative of his identify.
“We all know what Messi represented. He was the most important player in the history of this club,” stated Gerard Pique of Barcelona. “But every thing has an finish and we now have to maneuver on. There are many qualities on this group. We will likely be very aggressive and I’m positive we are going to combat for all of the titles until the tip.
Club president Joan Laporta was among the many few followers who protested in and outdoors the Camp Nou, with banners accusing them of not doing sufficient to retain their legendary participant. Some additionally complained about former president Josep Bartomeu, blaming him for the membership’s monetary difficulties, which led to Messi leaving.
On the sector, Barcelona started the scoring within the nineteenth with a header by Pique, which was cheered loudly even after followers agreed to cut back their pay in order that the membership might register different gamers in time for the opener. Can you
Martin Braithwaite took the lead in stoppage time of the primary half and scored within the 59th. He additionally assisted within the last purpose of Sergi Roberto in damage time of the second half. The membership’s prime low season signing helped Memphis Depay rating two targets.
Sociedad, ending in fifth place final season, got here shut in 82nd with a purpose from Julen Lobet and an excellent free kick _ which Messi would have been proud to take three minutes later by Mikel Oyarzabal.
The final time there have been followers at Camp Nou was on March 7, in a match towards Real Sociedad. Spanish well being authorities allowed the league to renew with crowds of as much as 40% of the venue’s capability.
Fans had combined emotions.
“On the one hand I feel very bad because Messi is gone. I had a very difficult time with all this,” said 23-year-old student Marta Gonzalez. “But then again I’m very completely happy to see a brand new Barca and be right here.”
defending champions win
Angel Correa scored a purpose in every half as Atlético Madrid started their title protection with a 2–1 win at Celta Vigo, extending their unbeaten streak within the Spanish league opener to 12 matches.
Correa, who opened the assault rather than Luis Suarez, opened the scoring within the twenty third with a low shot from outdoors the sector. He added his second from contained in the field within the sixty fourth, when Iago Aspas transformed a penalty kick within the 59th minute following a hand ball from Marcos Llorente to equalize for the hosts.
The benches had been vacated in stoppage time following a brawl following a foul by Hugo Mallo on Suarez. Malo and Atletico’s Mario Hermoso obtained pink playing cards.
Home defeats have disadvantaged Celta of victory of their final six league openers since a 2-1 loss to Levante in Valencia in 2015.
Atlético’s final defeat of their first league recreation of the season got here in 2009 _ shedding 3–0 to Málaga earlier than the arrival of coach Diego Simeone.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stated: “We can’t see what happened last season. “We just have to focus on the next match. It’s the only thing that matters.”
Suarez, the previous Barcelona striker who was essential to Atletico of their title race final season, got here into the match as a second-half substitute for Correa with the Uruguay striker nonetheless attempting to regain his greatest kind. Was doing.
The match, performed in entrance of round 7,000 followers on the Ballados Stadium, marked the official debut for Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul with Atlético.
Zidane ejected
Rayo Vallecano, the son of former French nice Zinedine Zidane, was despatched off goalkeeper Luca Zidane within the sixteenth after fouling a Sevilla participant inside the sector, which resulted in a penalty kick and ultimately a 3–0 loss.
Yusuf N-Nesri transformed the penalty and new signing Erik Lamela later scored twice in a house win for Sevilla, fourth final season.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
