MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi continued his remarkable run of form with a second-half double as Barcelona continued their march towards the La Liga title on Saturday (March 30) with a 2-0 win over Espanyol.
The visitors gave their city rivals a tough game at the Camp Nou, but Messi's chipped free-kick with 19 minutes to play and a late second sent the reigning champions 13 points clear at the top ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid's game at Alaves later on Saturday.
Messi has now netted eight times in his last four games for Barca, and leads the way in the La Liga scoring charts with 31 goals, 13 ahead of teammate Luis Suarez.
"I had no idea he would hit (the free-kick) like that," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
"I would love to say that we had planned it, but it's not true, it's up to him. He didn't need my opinion and he scored."
It was a fitting way for the Argentinian to mark his 675th Barcelona appearance, which moved him ahead of Andres Iniesta into second on the club's all-time list - 102 adrift of Xavi Hernandez.
He made a low-key return to international action in midweek as Argentina lost a friendly to Venezuela, but Valverde was delighted it did not affect Messi on Saturday.
"Messi is the same player no matter what team he is playing in," he said.
"He would be the same if he played in Australia... We are delighted to have him, it's a luxury for me to coach him."
BARCA FRUSTRATED
Barca struggled to break down Espanyol early on, with Messi, Suarez and Ivan Rakitic all wasting half-chances in the first period.
Barcelona saw a penalty appeal waved away by both the referee and VAR on the stroke of half-time, and Malcom was denied just after the hour mark by away goalkeeper Diego Lopez as the Catalan giants grew frustrated.
But Messi has been consistently unplayable this season, and he dinked in a wonderful effort from a set-piece despite Victor Sanchez's best efforts to clear off the line.
The three points were sealed in the 89th minute as Malcom ran clear on the breakaway, before cutting the ball across for Messi to sweep a trademark finish low into the bottom corner.
Barcelona next visit Villarreal on Tuesday with a second successive title looking even more like a mere formality after a sixth straight victory extended their unbeaten league run to 17 matches.
Earlier on Saturday, fourth-placed Getafe missed the chance to solidify their spot in the Champions League places as they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat by Leganes.
Uruguayan Michael Santos and Spaniard Juanfran scored in the second half for Leganes to give Alaves the chance to move into the top four with a win over Atletico.
Football: Chelsea move into third spot above Tottenham after 3-0 win over Watford the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea FC and Watford FC at Stamford Bridge in London
Football: Chelsea move into third spot above Tottenham after
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-chelsea-move-into-third-spot-above-tottenham-after-3-0-win-over-watford/
Football: Chelsea move into third spot above Tottenham after 3-0 win over Watford 05/05/2019 Chelsea , EPL , Maurizio Sarri LONDON (REUTERS) - Quickfire headed goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz, both set up by Eden Hazard early in the second half, helped Chelsea to a 3-0 home victory against spirited Watford in the Premier League
Chelsea 3 - 0 Watford - Match Report & Highlights
Football: 'We want Messi to always be at Barca', says club
BARCELONA • Antoine Griezmann had been set to maneuver to Barcelona final summer time in one in all soccer's largest transfers of all time. The seemingly nailed-on deal, nonetheless, didn't materialise after Atletico Madrid managed to persuade the France ahead that they have been making progress, main him to signal a brand new contract till …
Key Clash Preview: New Zealand v France | The Rugby Blog
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has again cast doubt on the Premier League champions' readiness to win the Champions League for the first time. Man City still teenagers in adult world of
Sport24.co.za | Man City still teenagers in adult world of
Fabio Quagliarella became the oldest ever player to score for Italy as the 36-year-old converted two penalties in a crushing 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win by the Azzurri over Liechtenstein on Tuesday.
Quagliarella, 36, sets Italian record as oldest scorer
The 2019-20 season is Tottenham Hotspur's 28th season in the Premier League and 42nd successive season in the top division of the English football league system.Along with the Premier League, the club competes in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Football: Tottenham Hotspur to play in Singapore in July pre
Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton: Toffees held to goalless draw
United late show rescues draw as Solskjaer's winning run ends. Simon Evans winning start as Manchester United's caretaker manager ended with a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley on Tuesday, but his
Solskjaer's Winning Streak Ends as Man Utd Outclassed by PSG
France coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday that Olympique Lyonnais left back Ferland Mendy will join Real Madrid. Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps.
Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps
Paul Gascoigne 'can't wait' for train sex assault trial as he's 'done nothing wrong' FORMER England star Paul Gascoigne has told a court how he "can't wait" to face trial over an allegation of sexual assault, insisting: "I have done nothing wrong".
Paul Gascoigne in court: Former England star Gazza denies
Hatem wonder strike secures Qatar upset of South Korea. ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Qatar's Abdulaziz Hatem scored with a stunning late strike as the 2022 World Cup hosts upset Son Heung-min's South Korea 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Cup for the first time on Friday.
Football: Hatem wonder strike secures Qatar upset of South
Maurizio Sarri has announced that he cannot do anything if Eden Hazard wants to leave Chelsea and sign for Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
Maurizio Sarri says Eden Hazard is free to leave Chelsea if
Home Sport Football Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga dropped as Chelsea beat Tottenham Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga dropped as Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0. By. News Agency of Nigeria
Football: Arrizabalaga dropped as Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0
0 comments:
Post a Comment