Maffeo’s interesting night marking Messi

Girona full-back Pablo Maffeo was tasked with the difficult job of man-marking Lionel Messi and the Girona defender had the upper hand during the intriguing battle with the Barcelona number 10.

Barcelona won the game thanks to two own goals as the Catalan giants maintained their perfect start to the season with a 3-0 win on Saturday.

Maffeo, who plays as full back had a different role against Barcelona. He marked Messi throughout the pitch in order to affect the Argentine’s rhythm. The strategy worked as Messi was kept quite for most of the game. The Argentine had started the new season brilliantly under new coach Ernesto Valverde, scoring nine goals in four matches.

Maffeo is on loan from Manchester City and the defender remarked after the game that "When you cover Messi, you have to think that he's a normal person, that he has two legs like everyone else.”

The defender haggled Messi time and time again, even following the playmaker deep into the Barcelona third.

Messi was seen talking to the Girona defender and the player later revealed the interesting exchange he had with the Argentine.

"Messi said to me 'I've got you here for the whole game' and I responded 'You're the best in the world, what am I going to do,” Maffeo was quoted as saying by Barcelona based newspaper SPORT.

Messi had a off-colour night given the high standards he has set for himself. However, the Argentine’s frustration was not focused on the defender. While he threw his arms up in frustration at some of the challenges early on, Messi gradually settled into the game in his customary manner.

"We were talking because I was stuck to him the whole match. There was no bad feeling or anything funny. He’s the best player in the world and if you don’t stick to him, he can score at any moment,” Maffeo said.

"I had to be with him and to stop him touching the ball. It’s difficult, not just in terms of the football, but physiologically. I am grateful for the confidence the coach showed in me."

Lionel Messi attempts to dribble past multiple defenders with Girona defender Pablo Maffeo making sure to block passing lanes. Photo: Reuters

The Girona defender would cherish the night he stopped Messi from making any considerable impact in a football match.