MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi continued his sublime form by netting his 31st La Liga hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Levante 5-0 on Sunday (Dec 16) to regain their three-point lead at the top of the table.
The 31-year-old Argentinian arrived in Valencia having scored two free-kicks in last weekend's derby thumping of Espanyol. He took his goals tally for the season to 20 after a virtuoso display, while also teeing up Luis Suarez's 35th-minute opener and Gerard Pique's late fifth.
Barca were under pressure after Atletico Madrid and second-placed Sevilla had both moved level on points with the Catalan giants.
But after resting his key stars for their final Champions League group-stage match against Tottenham in midweek, coach Ernesto Valverde saw his refreshed side cruise to a third straight league win without conceding a goal.
Levante started the game brightly and visiting goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was forced into an early save by Ghanaian Emmanuel Boateng.
But Barca did not take long to start moving through the gears, with Messi curling wide from long range before testing Oier Olazabal in the Levante goal with a free-kick.
Just seconds after Boateng hammered a left-footed strike against the crossbar, the reigning Spanish champions broke the deadlock as Messi jinked through a mesmerised home defence and picked out Suarez who volleyed home.
But Levante, who had ended Barcelona's dreams of going through last season's La Liga campaign unbeaten with a remarkable 5-4 victory in the penultimate game, came close to a quick response as Jose Luis Morales fired over.
The match was all but ended as a contest when Messi bore down on goal two minutes before half-time and drilled low into the net.
He wasted little time after the restart to add his second in the 47th minute, sweeping home Jordi Alba's clever cutback, before completing his treble with a simple tap-in from Arturo Vidal's square pass on the hour mark.
Messi has scored five goals in two league games since finishing only fifth in the voting for the Ballon d'Or earlier this month.
A bad evening for Levante worsened with 14 minutes to play, as left-back Erick Cabaco was sent off for a reckless lunge on Ousmane Dembele.
Centre-back Pique added further gloss to the scoreline in the 88th minute, rampaging forward to collect Messi's pass, before keeping his cool and rolling the ball home.
Sevilla keep up the paceÂ
Sevilla reclaimed second place earlier on Sunday as second-half strikes from Ever Banega and Pablo Sarabia sealed a 2-0 win over Girona.
Pablo Machin's side are unbeaten in seven league games since a 4-2 loss at Barcain October.
The hosts had to wait until the 55th minute to break the deadlock, when striker Andre Silva was tripped in the area by Girona defender Juanpe.
Argentinian Banega stepped up to send visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The points were wrapped up only nine minutes later, as Wissam Ben Yedder cut the ball back for the onrushing Sarabia to slide home his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
"In the first half they (Girona) were very good," said Machin.
"They were very organised and had good chances, when (Sevilla goalkeeper) Tomas (Vaclik) was splendid.
"In the second half we were the better team." Elsewhere, Villarreal were plunged further into crisis as Samuele Longo's 93rd-minute strike saw them held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Huesca.
Villarreal, who replaced Javier Calleja with Luis Garcia Plaza as coach in midweek, are only one point and one place above the relegation zone.
Real Betis eased to a 3-1 win at Espanyol to move into fifth place after a third successive league victory.
Giovani Lo Celso scored and missed a penalty for Betis, with Cristian Tello also on the scoresheet.
Espanyol, who led the table earlier in the season, have lost five straight matches to slip into the bottom half.
Jan 25, 2019 · 'It's got the feel of the old Wimbledon': Downes and Hodges plot FA Cup shock Wimbledon's 5-1 defeat to West Ham in a fifth-round replay in 1985. now in football, their rebirth as
AFC Wimbledon stun West Ham 4-2 in FA Cup - bbc.com
The caretaker manager blamed a first domestic defeat in 13 league matches on missed chances and exonerated David de Gea from fault when the keeper was beaten by Granit Xhaka for the opening goal.
Rassie Erasmus happy with Bok win but rues missed chances
LONDON: The English Football Association (FA) has charged Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino with improper conduct for confronting the referee after Saturday's shock 2-1 Premier League
Football: Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino charged for improper
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has urged his players to give "every fibre of their bodies" in the battle for the Premier League title. Manchester City moved to the top of the league on Wednesday for the first time since December after Klopp's side limped to back-to-back draws against Leicester City and West Ham United.
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will fight with every fibre for
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning semi-finals, as he laughs off 'unlucky' tag Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during training in Madrid. PHOTO: REUTERS
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/football-klopp-says-he-is-a-world-record-holder-at-winning-semi-finals-as-he-laughs-off-unlucky-tag/
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning semi-finals, as he laughs off 'unlucky' tag Posted on 05/31/2019 MADRID (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp laughed off suggestions he is an unlucky manager as he looks to halt an unfortunate run of ending up on the losing side in his last six finals as a coach when he leads Liverpool into
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning
Jun 06, 2019 · Ghost Ship trial: A weary dad sits in court every day, missing his daughter deserves blame. So too, Serra said, does the city for failing to do something about the conditions in the warehouse
Croatia Digs Deeper, Burying England's World Cup Dreams - The
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his Manchester United players after they gave him the perfect start to his reign with a 5-1 victory at Cardiff just days after Jose Mourinho was sacked. Former United striker Solskjaer had just two days to prepare his players for his first match as caretaker manager.
Manchester United : Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises buccaneering
Chelsea backroom staff 'convinced they are set for Stamford Bridge axe' along with manager Maurizio Sarri. Chelsea's backroom staff are expecting to face the sack at the end of the season
Coach Sarri insists he can avoid Chelsea axe
desktop.gulf-times.com/story/622832/Coach-Sarri-insists-he-can-avoid-Chelsea-axe
Maurizio Sarri insists he expects to avoid being sacked as Chelsea manager if his troubled side can put together a sustained winning run. Reports yesterday claimed Sarri will be axed if Chelsea are beaten in any of their next three matches after losing the backing of the club's hierarchy.
Maurizio Sarri admits job is at risk as beleaguered boss
LONDON • Vincent Kompany believes that he has a duty to tackle the issue of homelessness in Manchester, which he has called home for the past 10 years.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Manchester's homeless in good Kompany - theworldnews.net
Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.
Theme Days Activity Ideas for Seniors & the Elderly
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship Description: The 34-year-old's decision means PSG have an extra space in their squad for a non-EU player. Silva has played 274 games since joining the reigning Ligue 1 champions in 2012 and has 77 caps for Brazil.
Football: PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Barcelona on the verge of La Liga title after beating Alaves
Football: Sevilla put pressure on Spanish La Liga leaders
Ambitious Hougang show title promise, Football News & Top
Manchester United legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch. 4 days ago. LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tormented Bayern Munich once again as the Manchester United manager scored in his club's 1999 treble winners' reunion on Sunday. Twenty years after Solskjaer scored the last-gasp winner that helped Alex Ferguson's
Man Utd legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer game live espn
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming video
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch us soccer live stream
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming free online
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch champions league final online free live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch premier league darts live stream
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live stream uk
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer live stream app
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming australia
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch premier league live stream hd
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch live soccer game today
tv soccer live stream sky
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch premier league live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
free watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming now
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
#salah #roadtrip #MyDubai #arsenal #panini #mancity #beatifulgame #acmilan #liverpoolfc #battuteepiche #petercrouch #commentimemorabili #myfootballuniverse #football #girlsniteout #cristianoronaldo #Liverpool #fcbarcelona #hoffenhiem #liverpoolcity #londoncity #cristiano #arsenalfantv #livestreams #romania #mancityvsliverpool #zinedinezidane #liverpool #oasis #ucl #adidasslipon #trollfootball #manchestercity #footballschedule #nutmeg #elcasico #insegreto #chocolatecoffee #footballfans #manchestercity #premierleague #messi #lovefootball #realmadridcf #GarageCafeDxb #footballmemes #Barcelona #knuckleball #Suarez #commento #ignoranza #MSport #league1 #jadwalbolahariini #vip #coys #bayernmunich #kopisusu #arsenalnews #sixtimes #realmadrid #Barca #alissonbecker #zidane #liverpoolfans #thebeatles #firmino #barcelona #4Series #goodday #midnight #nikesoccer #noelgallagher #manchesterunited #Celtic #valcea #leomessi #soccerbible #footballmeme #Vip45 #golazo #sumbertv #Liamgallagher #PartyTime #footballstreaming #championship #boxing #pagani #frasitrap #BMW #oasisandbeatles #americanfootball #ballondor
No comments:
Post a Comment