Barcelona: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde joked he hoped to see Lionel Messi score 200 goals after Barcelona's talisman chalked up another milestone as he scored for the 100th time in European competitions from a second-half free kick in a 3-1 win against Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Messi also set up the third goal for Lucas Digne as Barca won despite blinding rain and thunder and lightning at Nou Camp to make it three wins from three in Europe this season. "I hope he reaches 200 goals this season!" Valverde said when asked about another Messi landmark.
"His numbers validate what we see every day. He is beating statistics that seemed impossible. He has been doing it for a long time now, constantly breaking down barriers." But there was a moment in the first-half which escaped the attention of many. In the first half he dug into his socks and took out a pill and put it in his mouth.
According to Catalunya Radio's Ricard Torquemada, Messi was chewing on a glucose tablet to give himself an energy boost. He claimed it was the best time to take the tablet as "before the first 15 minutes of physical effort is when the muscles are most receptive."
"I don't know if he took a glucose tablet," said a bemused Valverde. "If it made him score a goal, then he should take a load of them... But I do know the players do take glucose."
It is usual for athletes to take these tablets, but rarely is it seen during the game. Instead they are often taken after warm-up and before the game.
Barcelona fans brought in a near 50-metre banner, pleading for "Dialogue, Respect, and Sport" as Camp Nou opened its doors for the first time since a crackdown of an independence referendum in Catalonia on October 1.
However, heavy rain in the hours before the kick-off turned thousands of fans away with almost two thirds of the 99,000-capacity stadium left empty.
Barca's singing section also held up a banner reading 'Freedom for Catalonia', whilst there were habitual chants in favour of independence in the 17th minute to mark the fall of Catalonia in the Spanish War of Succession in 1714.
Barca beat Las Palmas 3-0 behind closed doors on October 1 as a protest at the violent scenes across Catalonia. However, the decision to go ahead with the match proved divisive as two Barca board members resigned in the aftermath.
Barca announced on Tuesday representatives of pro-independence citizens' groups Omnium Cultural and the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) were invited after their leaders Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez were detained on Monday on charges of sedition. However, both organisations refused that offer.
The club have supported Catalonia's right to self-determination in a referendum, but stopped short of backing independence. "We believe FC Barcelona's message doesn't represent the majority of the fans.," the ANC said in a statement on Twitter.
(agencies)
