The Spaniard’s 37th minute equaliser against Galatasaray evoked memories of former Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, but the youngster was quick to dismiss such comparisons.
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Barcelona midfielder Pedri scored a sublime goal against Galatasaray in the Europa League last-16 second leg fixture in Istanbul on Thursday. The Spaniard’s 37th minute goal evoked memories of former Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, but the youngster was quick to dismiss such comparisons. The Blaugrana secured a 2-1 win against the Turkish side to enter the quarter-finals of the competition. Brazilian defender Maracao had put the hosts ahead before Pedri leveled the score and then Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second-half strike sealed Barca’s victory.
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Vamosssss!!! ?? pic.twitter.com/DSluY3vqg2
— Pedri González (@Pedri) March 17, 2022
Torres collected the ball from Frenkie De Jong and played a nice little through ball for Pedri inside the box. The Spaniard dodged and shimmed his way through a minefield of Galatasaray defenders before slotting home past Inaki Pena into the back of the net.
“No way!” Pedri shot back when told his goal had drawn comparisons with Messi.
“Messi has scored much better goals. It is crazy to compare me with Messi.
“I don’t really remember the goal, though, so I will have to watch it back. I remember Ferran gave me the ball, I feinted [inside] because I saw a leg coming and again, I think, until I shot. Things just come to me on the pitch. I’m lucky in that I don’t have to really think.”
Barcelona boss Xavi was full of praise for the talented youngster and he had earlier compared Pedri with Barca legend Andres Iniesta. “The goal is sublime,” Xavi said in a news conference. “It’s of real beauty, the pause in the build-up … Pedri is capable of that and much more — and he’s sill only 19. What a privilege. I can’t praise him anymore.”
Aubameyang scored the winner on 49 minutes. Inaki Pena made a brilliant double-save to deny Sergio Busquets and Pedri but the ball eventually fell to Aubameyang in front of goal, and the Gabon international made no mistake as he put the ball inside the net.
“We played really well and showed a lot of character,” Xavi added. “There’s a lot of merit in coming from behind here.
After taking the lead, Xavi’s side managed the game expertly, kept the ball possession very well and gave very little opportunity for the home side to attack. Meanwhile Barca could have extended the lead in the stoppages but Torres was denied by the woodwork and Memphis Depay’s effort went just wide after some fine quick-passing football.
