Nabil El Zhar had fired the hosts into a shock lead midway through the first-half. However, after an unfortunate Juanfran own goal had levelled matters just after half-time, Tello then sped onto Messi’s through ball to fire home on the hour mark.
The two combined once more 10 minutes from time and another lovely Messi pass allowed the 22-year-old to volley home his hat-trick five minutes later to leave the second-leg at the Camp Nou next Wednesday a formality.
And Barca boss Gerardo Martino hailed his side’s patience as they all but killed the tie off in the second-half after a difficult opening period. ‘In the first-half I was worried, but I also expect that in these type of games we will find more spaces in the second-half,’ he said.
‘The opponent in front of us was making a huge effort and what I want is Barcelona to keep circulating the ball to make the other team tire. ‘Thanks to that we found spaces in the second-half and Leo has taken advantage of them very well.’
Barca prez Rosell to resign
MADRID: Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is to resign in the aftermath of a Spanish court’s decision to investigate the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar last year, Spanish media reported on Thursday. Rosell is believed to have met with fellow board members on Thursday and Spanish newspapers, including Mundo Deportivo and Sport, said he has decided to quit Barcelona.
AC Milan suffer shock Cup exit against Udinese
MILAN: AC Milan suffered a shock exit from the Coppa Italia when they lost 2-1 at home to Serie A strugglers Udinese in Clarence Seedorf’s second match in charge on Wednesday. An individual goal by 20-year-old Uruguayan Nicolas Lopez, only two minutes after coming on as a substitute, condemned Milan to the inevitable chorus of jeers from a sparse San Siro crowd after their quarter-final defeat. Milan had given Seedorf a winning debut by beating Hellas Verona 1-0 in Serie A on Sunday and made a flying start to the tie when Mario Balotelli tapped in from close range after six minutes. Milan failed to build on their early goal and Udinese levelled with a penalty converted by Colombian Luis Muriel four minutes before halftime following Urby Emanuelson’s clumsy tackle.
The two combined once more 10 minutes from time and another lovely Messi pass allowed the 22-year-old to volley home his hat-trick five minutes later to leave the second-leg at the Camp Nou next Wednesday a formality.
And Barca boss Gerardo Martino hailed his side’s patience as they all but killed the tie off in the second-half after a difficult opening period. ‘In the first-half I was worried, but I also expect that in these type of games we will find more spaces in the second-half,’ he said.
‘The opponent in front of us was making a huge effort and what I want is Barcelona to keep circulating the ball to make the other team tire. ‘Thanks to that we found spaces in the second-half and Leo has taken advantage of them very well.’
Barca prez Rosell to resign
MADRID: Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is to resign in the aftermath of a Spanish court’s decision to investigate the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar last year, Spanish media reported on Thursday. Rosell is believed to have met with fellow board members on Thursday and Spanish newspapers, including Mundo Deportivo and Sport, said he has decided to quit Barcelona.
AC Milan suffer shock Cup exit against Udinese
MILAN: AC Milan suffered a shock exit from the Coppa Italia when they lost 2-1 at home to Serie A strugglers Udinese in Clarence Seedorf’s second match in charge on Wednesday. An individual goal by 20-year-old Uruguayan Nicolas Lopez, only two minutes after coming on as a substitute, condemned Milan to the inevitable chorus of jeers from a sparse San Siro crowd after their quarter-final defeat. Milan had given Seedorf a winning debut by beating Hellas Verona 1-0 in Serie A on Sunday and made a flying start to the tie when Mario Balotelli tapped in from close range after six minutes. Milan failed to build on their early goal and Udinese levelled with a penalty converted by Colombian Luis Muriel four minutes before halftime following Urby Emanuelson’s clumsy tackle.