Messi Gives Guardiola A Taste Of His Own Medicine

 

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as 10-man Manchester City lost 4-0 on Pep Guardiola's return to Barcelona in the Champions League. Messi punished Fernandinho's slip in the 17th minute to give Barca the lead on Wednesday night, but City spurned several chances to draw level by half-time.

The game turned on 53 minutes when City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was sent off on his return to the Nou Camp for deliberate handball. Barca ruthlessly made their numerical advantage count as Messi struck twice in eight minutes to notch his 37th club treble.

Jeremy Mathieu's dismissal for two bookable offences failed to derail the hosts as Neymar, having missed an 87th-minute penalty, atoned with Barca's fourth a minute from time. Victory moves Barca five points clear of second-placed City - who went a fourth game without a win in all competitions - in Group C with three games to play.