Messi hat-trick fires Barcelona to victory over PSV

Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick as Barcelona kickstarted their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win at home to Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

However, their victory was marred by defender Samuel Umtiti sent off in the second half.

Barca’s all-time top scorer Messi broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute at the Nou Camp with an immaculately struck free kick.

It was his second free kick goal in three home games this season.

Coached by former Barca and Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel, PSV had produced an admirable performance in their first visit to the Nou Camp in 21 years.

But they began to tire late in the second half.

In the first period they successfully shut down most of Barca’s attacks and also plotted several dangerous breaks.

The Spanish champions began to demonstrate the gulf in class as the second half progressed and they doubled their lead in the 75th minute.

It was a lovely curling strike from in-form French forward Ousmane Dembele, who scored a fifth goal from sixth games in all competitions this season.

Messi got his second and Barca’s third goal two minutes later, turning Ivan Rakitic’s dinked pass into the near corner with one flick of his boot.

He then completed his treble in the 87th by receiving another chipped pass, this time from Luis Suarez, and ruthlessly smashing home.

The mood was briefly dampened when France defender Umtiti was dismissed in the 79th minute for a second yellow card.

He is therefore ruled out of Barca’s next Champions League game away to Tottenham Hotspur on Oct. 3.

Barca lead Champions League Group B on goal difference after Inter Milan beat Tottenham 2-1.