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.
Super-sub Kim sends below-par Koreans into last eight. But Paulo Bento's side, runners-up in 2015 and one of the favourites for the title, survived to reach the last eight, where they will
Latest ASIAN CUP | The Straits Times
Football: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel hits out at Neymar after fan attack at French Cup final Thomas Tuchel (left) blasted Neymar for hitting a fan who insulted Paris Saint-Germain players while
PSG Coach Thomas Tuchel Hits Out at Neymar after Fan Attack
Thank you for visiting the Axe website. If you are reporting a problem with one of our products, please be sure to include your address and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day so we can contact you for further information. Unilever does not collect personal information from children under 13.
AXE Media TV Review - digitalcashkings.com
Football: Valencia to face Barca in Copa final after seeing off Betis Valencia's forward Rodrigo Moreno (second right) celebrates with team mates after scoring. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Soccer: Valencia to face Barca in Copa final after seeing off
City and Liverpool leave chasing pack facing tough summer The Star. 13/05/2019. Liverpool's attempt to dethrone Manchester City as Premier League champions ended in glorious failure yesterday, but
City and Liverpool leave chasing pack facing tough summer
Football: Arsenal's Lacazette free to face Rennes as Uefa cuts ban Lacazette (above) was hit with a three-game ban by European soccer's governing body for serious rough play. PHOTO: AFP
Arsenal's Lacazette free to face Rennes as UEFA cuts ban
Moise Kean came off the bench to claim a late winner and put Juventus on the brink of clinching the Serie A title. If Napoli lose at home to Genoa on Sunday, Juve will be Italian champions for an
Moise Kean Winner Puts Juventus On Brink Of Serie A Title
English refs can't execute VAR: Sarri. Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane tumbling to the ground in the penalty box after being fouled by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. He converted the
VAR: another embarrassing night for English football | The
But on Friday, the United States women's national team resumed its protracted and righteous fight for equal pay with the men's national team by suing the United States Soccer Federation for
Women's national team files wage-discrimination action vs. US
Report Ad
Itineraries, Maps & Attractions. Create Your Barcelona Travel Guide!
Premier League's Watford were made to sweat to beat lowly Championship club Queens Park Rangers 1-0 on Friday and book their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second time in four seasons. Watford had possession in the first half but struggled to make any inroads against the solid home defence until Etienne Capoue swept a low shot into
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight - dawn.com
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to full training as early as February. The 25-year-old underwent knee surgery in May after sustaining an
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to training in February
Europa right for us: Ole. "It's probably the right place to be for us, Europa League next year and, if City don't win the FA Cup, we'll have an early and bright start for Europa League
'The Europa League is the right place to be for us': Ole
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch live streaming of premier league football
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch indian premier league live stream online
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming live
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch usa soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch soccer game live espn
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming app
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
tv soccer live stream sky
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch us soccer live stream
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch premier league live streaming live
soccer tv live net stream
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer live stream links
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer live streaming hd
#copaamerica #24x7 #oasisandbeatles #mancityvsliverpool #soccermemes #kickoff #battuteepiche #acmilan #ucl #winner #Barca #leomessi #ronaldo #footballmeme #juventus #romania #realmadridcf #salah #henderson #liverpoolcity #coutinho #footballstreaming #conference #gunners #tokyo #bestshishacafedubai #rockstar #barcelona #nutmeg #livesports #arsenalfantv #klopp #afcnews #oudmehta #seriea #football #thomasmeunier #valcea #bayernmunich #cristiano #golazo #transfernews #MyDubai #insegreto #freekickerz #kopisusu #livestreaming #Vip45 #cappucino #noelgallagher #girlsniteout #sunderlandafc #americanfootball #chocolate #bayervshoffenheim #paulmcartney #gym #comico #mancity #watchlive #gooners #Liamgallagher #fut #league1 #thebeatles #ballondor #championship #boxing #petercrouch #433skills #comics #panini #myfootballuniverse #oasisofficial #mensnightout #freekicks #premierleague #zidane #visubal #championsleague #liverpoolfans #leicestercity #4Series #calciatoribrutti #hotcoffee #zinedinezidane #bundesliga #fcbarcelona #goal #neymar #chocolatecoffee #frasitrap #livestreams #roadtrip #liverpool #trollfootball
No comments:
Post a Comment