Ansu Fati grateful for Messi's advice after leading Barca to victory

With all the pre-match build-up centring on Messi’s anger at the club’s decision to force Luis Suarez out and join Atletico Madrid, Fati stole the show by giving Barca an early advantage with two expertly taken finishes in the opening 20 minutes.

Fati, 17, who was not even two years old when Messi made his Barca debut back in 2004, recalled a childhood looking up to the six-times world player of the year and said the Argentinean was helping him improve.

“Playing with Messi is a dream I had since I was a child and now I am living it,” the forward told reporters.

“He gives me a lot of advice, he helps me a lot on the pitch and in training, but away from it too, and that makes me very happy.”