Barcelona was competing in its final preseason tune-up ahead of this weekend’s Supercopa Espana first leg against Sevilla.
But Lionel Messi is already in midseason form.
Following this summer’s Copa America disappointment and subsequent retirement from the Argentinian national team, Messi looks to have his head right with the club season right around the corner.
In a friendly against Sampdoria, the 29-year-old superstar helped Luis Suarez open the scoring in the 15th minute with a stunning overhead kick assist that let his strike partner bury an easy header into the back of the net. Suarez had a huge smile on his face after the move, clearly overjoyed with what he just witnessed.
Did he mean to pop it over the defender’s head and rest it on a platter for the Uruguayan? Was his effort meant for the far corner and just didn’t get enough power? Whatever the intent, the result was beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that it overshadowed a pair of goals from Messi in the 3-2 Barcelona win.
Barcelona opens its season Saturday against Sevilla in the Supercopa. Their La Liga season begins August 20 against Real Betis at the Camp Nou.
