Messi tries to slip a through ball in behind the defense, but Jordi Alba’s run is mistimed and he is flagged offside, halting the attack.

Messi threads a through pass toward Samuel Umtiti, yet the centre-back is caught offside and the move is called back.

Messi drops deep and carries the ball in his own half, drawing a foul to win a free kick in the defensive zone and relieve pressure.

Messi’s header from the center of the box is directed toward the bottom right corner, but Dimitrievski saves it to deny the goal.

From a set-piece, Messi swings in a precise cross that Piqué heads just wide of the left post, narrowly missing the equalizer.

After a corner, Suárez finds Messi outside the box, where his left-footed drive flies just over the crossbar.

Messi delivers a superb set-piece cross into the area, and Piqué rises to head into the bottom right corner to bring Barcelona level at 1–1.

Messi calmly converts from the spot with a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner, putting Barcelona ahead 2–1.

Messi breaks into the center of the box and hits a right-footed effort toward the bottom right corner, but Dimitrievski gets down to save.

Messi lets fly with a left-footed shot from outside the box, but a Rayo defender steps in to block the attempt.

Messi carries the ball dangerously in the attacking half and is fouled, earning a free kick in a promising position.

From the resulting direct free kick, Messi’s curling left-footed shot from outside the box just clears the bar, agonizingly close to another goal.