Messi
Messi ran the show for Barcelona against Girona.
Getty/NurPhoto
  • Lionel Messi scored twice and set up another with a beautiful disguised pass as Barcelona beat Girona 3-1 in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday. 
  • The 33-year-old was playing in just his second game since unsuccessfully trying to leave the club last month.
  • His first goal was a wonderful right foot rocket from outside the box just on the stroke of half time, while his second came by way of a deflection in the 51st minute. 
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Lionel Messi scored twice and set up another with a beautiful disguised pass as Barcelona beat Girona 3-1 in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday. 

The 33-year-old was playing in just his second game since unsuccessfully trying to leave the club by handing in a transfer request last month.

It took just 21 minutes for the Argentine to make his mark, playing new signing Francisco Trincao through on goal with an audacious reverse pass, who then teed up Philippe Coutinho for the opener.

Messi then made it 2-0 to Barcelona on the stroke of half time, firing the ball into the top corner from the edge of box with his right, and supposedly weaker, foot.

He added his second by way of a deflection in the 51st minute, before being substituted along with nine other players shortly after. 

After the victory, head coach Ronald Koeman was full of praise for his attacking players and their ability to operate fluidly across the front.

"My opinion is to have the best attack we can put on the pitch and some players, they can occupy different positions," Koeman said after the Girona win. 

He added: "It will be more difficult for the opponent if we change positions. Like Coutinho can play on the left, can play in the middle. Like [Antoine] Griezmann can play on the right, can play in the middle.

"Messi can play the nine, the winger inside, and it's a good thing to have those kinds of possibilities." 

Messi also featured in Barcelona's 3-1 friendly win over Gimnastic de Tarragona on Saturday, however striker Luis Suarez did not feature in either match, with the Uruguayan believed to be close to securing a move to Juventus, according to the BBC.

Barcelona kicks off its 2020/21 La Liga campaign against Villarreal on Sunday September 27. 

Read more:

Lionel Messi turned up early and trained alone on his return to FC Barcelona, just 2 weeks after going on strike and demanding a transfer

Lionel Messi's decision to leave Barcelona devastated his wife and kids, the soccer legend revealed: 'The whole family began crying'

Cristiano Ronaldo won't link up with Lionel Messi at Barcelona despite rumors flying, and will instead stay in Italy

Photos of Lionel Messi from every year of his historic career show just how long he was with Barcelona

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