Messi scores twice for Barcelona and Philippe Coutinho nets brilliant goal to set up semi-final against Liverpool or Porto
Wednesday 17 April 2019 06:00, UK
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona secured a 4-0 aggregate win over Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals. Here, we rate each player's performance at the Nou Camp in the second leg...
Marc-Andre ter Stegen - 7
It looked like it might be a busy night for the Barcelona goalkeeper in the opening 10 minutes as United started brightly, but he did not have much to do until making a brilliant late save to keep out a header from Alexis Sanchez.
Sergi Roberto - 7
Not as attacking as Jordi Alba down the other side, but Roberto still got forward to help out, although he did not always look assured when called upon to defend.
Gerard Pique - 7
A solid performance from the former Manchester United defender.
Clement Lenglet - 7
Hardly troubled aside from the opening 10 minutes when United looked like they might grab an away goal.
Jordi Alba - 8
A real force down the left side, regularly driving into the final third and overlapping to provide support to attacks. Got an assist for teeing up Philippe Coutinho for the third goal.
Sergio Busquets - 7
Having been a bit loose in possession at times in the first leg, this was a more typically controlled performance from Busquets, who even dropped into defence at times to provide some added stability.
Arthur - 7
An efficient and impressive display from a player who is enjoying a brilliant debut season with Barcelona.
Ivan Rakitic - 7
Like Busquets and Arthur, Rakitic gave Barcelona control of the game in midfield and rarely looked under pressure on the ball.
Lionel Messi - 9
Both his goals came from Manchester United errors, but that should not take away from a superb display. He looked a menace whenever he got on the ball, such as at the end of the first half when he twisted Phil Jones inside and out, and later in the game when he was shoved by Jones and then skipped around a couple of tackles before being fouled.
With Messi on this form Barcelona will be tough to stop.
Luis Suarez - 6
Did not get among the goals, meaning he is still yet to score in the Champions League this season, but he linked up well and posed a threat. He did also get booked in the second half.
Philippe Coutinho - 8
Having been criticised at times this season, Coutinho produced one of his best displays in a Barcelona shirt. He combined well with Alba down the left and produced a brilliant finish to score the third goal, which he celebrated by sticking his fingers in his ears.
Nelson Semedo - 6
Came on in the 71st minute and got forward a few times with Barcelona in complete control of the game.
Arturo Vidal - 5
Entered the pitch with a smile on his face in the 75th minute and did not have too much work to do.
Ousmane Dembele - 5
Not much time to impact the game after coming on with nine minutes left.
David de Gea - 4
Barcelona scored with their first two shots, and while De Gea could have done little to prevent the first, he was totally at fault for the second as Messi's strike squirmed underneath the goalkeeper.
Victor Lindelof - 6
Ferried out to right-back with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling in the middle, Lindelof did little wrong as other errors from United's defence took precedent.
Phil Jones - 5
The centre-back was turned inside and out by a piece of Messi skill in the first half as the Barcelona forward toyed with United's defence. Jones did make a vital clearance and was not at fault for either goal, but he struggled to keep Barca at bay.
Chris Smalling - 6
Made a match-high six clearances, but was sold a huge dummy by Luis Suarez which opened up space for Messi to score his first, while he was a mere spectator for the forward's second.
Ashley Young - 4
Another difficult night for the United captain. His poor clearance gifted Messi the ball for the first goal, and though Young tried to bring down the forward, he could only watch on as Barcelona took the lead.
Fred - 5
A tough evening for Fred in the middle of the park. He bothered and harried as best he could, but lost possession 17 times, the highest of any United player, and gave away four fouls.
Scott McTominay - 6
The Scot comes away from the quarter-final tie with his reputation very much bolstered. He was United's best player in the first leg, and did not look out of place on the Nou Camp turf despite the difficult circumstances. He recorded a pass accuracy of 92.5 per cent.
Paul Pogba - 5
United needed Pogba to control the midfield if they were to overturn the 1-0 deficit, but the France midfielder endured a tough evening, touching the ball just 58 times and losing the majority of his duels (5/11).
Jesse Lingard - 5
Played four key passes on the night, but struggled just as the rest of United's attack did after Messi's quickfire double. He was then replaced by Alexis Sanchez with 10 minutes to go.
Marcus Rashford - 5
What could have been! Rashford's toe-poked effort hit the bar in the opening minute with Barcelona's defence all at sea, but it was as close as he and United came.
Anthony Martial - 5
Looked in the mood early on as United enjoyed a fast start, but faded as their hopes petered out, with the France forward failing to record a single shot and losing possession eight times.
Diogo Dalot - 6
Replaced Lingard in the 65th minute as Solskjaer looked to make it damage limitation after going three goals down. Dalot put in some decent crosses, but had a quiet cameo otherwise.
Romelu Lukaku - 5
Came on in tough circumstances with United chasing the impossible. The Belgian could not create a chance in his 20 minutes on the pitch, but the visitors were down and out by then.
Alexis Sanchez - 5
Came on to a rapturous applause against his former side with 10 minutes to go, and very nearly headed in a late consolation, only to see Marc-Andre ter Stegen superbly deny him.
