Barcelona fans must have been pretty worried when the club announced Lionel Messi would miss the match against Malaga.
Thankfully it was to assist in the arrival of his third son Ciro, another future footballing GOAT.
Although under any circumstances not having Messi in your team is bad news, Ousmane Dembele’s performance will have settled a few nerves.
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The £135million summer signing, purchased to replace the Paris-bound Neymar, had struggled to adjust to life in Spain after leaving Borussia Dortmund.
A promising start was hampered by a long injury, but now the Frenchman is back and linking up with Philippe Coutinho every Champions League team should be afraid, very afraid.
Barcelona have already looked peerless in the league and Europe this season and that has mostly been without Dembele or Coutinho.
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With the Brazilian cup-tied for Europe, Dembele’s display against Malaga showed every aspect of the winger’s ability to destroy the opposition.
He terrorised the defenders with silky dribbling, an eye for a pass and brilliant footwork throughout the game.
On multiple occasions he left Malaga’s Federico Ricca for dead with the flick of his boot or drop of his shoulder.
And Dembele’s assist for the cheekiest of cheeky Coutinho finishes crowned a brilliant performance.
The 20-year-old ran in behind before perfectly executing an improved version of the ‘Ronaldo chop’ and then rolled the ball into his Brazilian team mate to flick the ball into the far corner.
Football for the Barclona fans to drool over.
The best part was that the Catalans dispatched their bottom-of-the-table opponents with ease, without the magical Messi.
Going forward into the latter stages of the Champions League the dazzling performance by Dembele could spell serious trouble for Chelsea in the second leg and anyone else Barca face in the quarters if they get past the Blues.
Messi, Dembele and Luis Suarez, you’ve got to worry for any defence in Europe.