Barcelona star earns perfect WhoScored rating in La Liga Team of the Week

Barcelona’s first match without the injured Neymar came at the price of two points dropped as they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. However, despite the disappointing result they were still able to extend their lead at the top over Real Madrid after Rafa Benitez’s men slumped to a 1-0 defeat away to Villarreal.

There was also individual joy for Lionel Messi, who finished the match with a perfect WhoScored rating (10.0). The Argentina international has already missed out on two months of the campaign and looks hungry to make up for lost time and his sublime free-kick looked to have got Barcelona on their way to another routine win at the weekend.

Messi was also on hand to create Barcelona’s second of the match and he also created a further four chances for his teammates. Not only that, but he also completed as many dribbles as his entire team combined (11) and also had more shots on target than any other player on display at the Camp Nou (4).

The 28-year-old was joined in the La Liga team of the week by teammate Ivan Rakitic, who only misplaced five of his 83 passes during his 72 minute performance. The Croatia international was also the beneficiary of Messi’s assist to double Barcelona’s lead.

Elsewhere in the Team of the Week, there was a spot for Espanyol right-back Javi Lopez, who completed at least three more interceptions (10) than any other player in the Spanish top-flight over the weekend.

For more stats on Lionel Messi, click here to visit his WhoScored player page