Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde was happy after their Champions League win over Sporting CP.

Lionel Messi started on the bench as Paco Alcacer and an own goal from Jeremy Mathieu earned Barca a 2-0 win.

Valverde said, "Our idea is to dominate matches and generate scoring situations, at the same time the opponent does not give us chances, we try to do the best we can, sometimes we are more brilliant, sometimes less.

On Messi, he added: "You always think that with him things are going to get better, we know that Leo inspires us a lot in our attacking game, both because of his ability to finish, because of his ability to order, clarify the game and find those passes that nobody sees."

Valverde was also happy to see Thomas Vermaelen play a full 90.

"I see him very well, a bit in the dynamics in which he trains, he competes well, he is strong in the challenges above and below, and he gets the game right, it is true that he has played little, but when he has had to play, he has responded well."