Messi 'sees things others don't' says Barcelona coach

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has heaped praise on Lionel Messi's start to the Liga season after the Argentine bounced back from a disappointing World Cup with two goals against Alaves.

Messi sent an audacious second-half free-kick under the jumping wall and into the net for the opener, and Barca's 6,000th La Liga goal, at the Camp Nou on Saturday before slotting in his second in injury-time after Philippe Coutinho had also scored in the 3-0 win.

"With Messi, you can expect absolutely anything," Valverde said. "He sees things that others don't see on the pitch.

"Sometimes we get too used to seeing it, he does things like he did today and we want him to pull a rabbit of the hat every time.

"He's a genius and we're lucky to be able to see him play every day."