Barcelona crush Osasuna as Messi pays tribute to Maradona

Lionel Messi returned to the Barcelona lineup and made a poignant tribute to Diego Maradona as Ronald Koeman’s side claimed a comfortable 4-0 home win over Osasuna to rise up to seventh in La Liga.

Martin Braithwaite kept his place in the Barca lineup after impressing in the Champions League during the week, with Messi returning to the team having been rested for the win over Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine.

Barca took the lead after 30 minutes when Braithwaite bundled home a scrappy finish with his knee, with Messi resisting the temptation to produce his own ‘Hand of God’ moment on the goalline, moving his left hand out of the way.

Griezmann doubled Barcelona’s advantage in emphatic style just before the half time interval, lashing home a powerful strike on the full volley, giving Sergio Herrera no chance of making a save.

Philippe Coutinho added his name to the score sheet in the second half, finishing from close range before Messi lashed a left-footed finish into the back of the net after 73 minutes, revealing a Newell’s Old Boys shirt with the number 10 on the back in homage to Maradona.