Paulo Dybala said last week he doesn't want to be known as the new lionel Messi. On Tuesday, the Argentine proved he can be just as good as his more famous compatriot, scoring two goals as Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions league quarterfinal.
Dybala, who was given a standing ovation when he was substituted nine minutes from time, broke the deadlock in the seventh minute and doubled his tally in the 22nd. Giorgio Chiellini added the third, 10 minutes after the break.
"I'm really happy because since I was a kid I wanted to experience these moments," the 23-year-old Dybala said. "It's one of my best nights, but we mustn't ruin it next Wednesday."
The result will give Juventus plenty of confidence heading into the second leg on April 19, but it will be wary of another fantastic comeback from Messi's Barcelona, which beat Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 in its last match to become the first team to overturn a 4-0 first-leg loss in the history of the competition.