Messi makes amends in Barca win

Lionel Messi scored twice and saw a penalty saved as Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the season in La Liga with a 2-0 win at Alaves on Saturday.
Without new marking Ousmane Dembele, who finished the second most costly exchange ever by moving for 105 million euros ($125 million) from Borussia Dortmund on Friday, or the harmed Luis Suarez, Messi guaranteed Barca didn't lose any early ground in the title race regardless of a turbulent begin to the battle off the field.

The five-time World Player of the Year missed from the punishment spot for the twentieth time in his vocation as Fernando Pacheco created a staggering spare halfway through the main half.

Be that as it may, Messi wasn't to be denied as his avoided exertion opened the scoring not long after half-time before a sweetly-struck volley secured each of the three focuses.

Alaves stunned Barca a year back by winning at the Camp Nou, and the hosts were left to lament an opportunity of a lifetime missed by Ruben Sobrino at 0-0 preceding capitulating to Messi's enchantment.

Sobrino burst past the heavy footed Gerard Pique on the half-hour check, yet put his shot excessively near Barca 'attendant Marc-Andre ter Stegen as he hunkered down on objective.

Arouse was included at the flip side as Barca were granted a punishment minutes after the fact when he was pulled to the ground by Rodrigo Ely at a Messi free-kick.

Messi's record from the spot had improved greatly since he briefly quit international football after blasting a spot-kick over as Argentina lost the Copa America Centenario final to Chile little over a year ago.

However, Pacheco sprung to his right impressively to turn Messi's effort round the post.

Visibly annoyed at himself, Messi responded with the opening goal 11 minutes after the break as his powerful low drive struck helpless Alaves defender Alexis to fly past Pacheco.

Alexis was also at fault when Barca doubled their advantage 11 minutes later as his poor clearance was headed by substitute Paco Alcacer into Messi's path to smash home on his favoured left foot.

Messi could even have had a hat-trick as he saw another effort from the edge of the box hit the bar.

Yet, Barca were never threatened after the break by an Alaves side lacking in ambition and attacking prowess as the hosts comfortably saw out a second 2-0 win to begin their league season.