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.
Football: Pochettino's positivity propels pursuit of progress
Sunday's match comes 15 years after he also played for Portugal in a final on home soil, when they lost 2-1 at home to Greece in the decisive match of Euro 2004. Ronaldo himself told UEFA's website that his preparation and work ethic had helped him defy his age. "I still feel good," he said.
Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several
Juve, Ronaldo to avoid the US amid rape probe NEW YORK • Organisers of the International Champions Cup (ICC) - a high-profile summer tournament for the world's biggest football clubs - have decided to keep Juventus and their star Cristiano Ronaldo away from the United States this year, eliminating the risk of the Portuguese being detained by
Juve, Ronaldo to keep away from the US amid rape probe
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left disappointed by the performance of his players in their slim win over Watford on Saturday evening. The Red Devils huffed and puffed against Watford but they were still able to get the three points at stake in their bid to secure Champions League football for next season […]
Victor Lindelof missed Man Utd vs Watford after receiving
Giroud demands important role at Chelsea next season
Wayne Rooney scores clever free-kick winner as DC United edge out Columbus Crew to stay top of the MLS Eastern Conference. Wayne Rooney's free-kick earned DC United a 1-0 win at Columbus Crew
MLS RSS feed - Football news, features, statistics
Newcastle United's 2-0 win over 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday eased their Premier League safety fears and sent the Terriers hurtling ever faster towards relegation to the Championship.
EPL: Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
Pep Guardiola Not concerned About Social Media Use By Man City Players Pep Guardiola Not concerned About Social Media Use by Man City Players,despite a post from Kyle Walker that appeared to mock Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
Liverpool needed more late goals to move top of the Premier League once more as Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson struck in the final 10 minutes to earn a 3-1 victory at Southampton on Friday.
Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 to return to top of Premier
Kean's Late Goal Puts Juventus On Brink Of Serie A Title. the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs AC Milan on April 6, 2019 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. Moise Kean scored the
Kean winner puts Juventus on the brink of title | The Daily Star
LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool's Premier League rivals that the leaders are laying the foundations for long-term success. Klopp's side sit four points clear at the top as they chase Liverpool's first English title since 1990.
Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp
Mohamed Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football by retaining his African Player of the Year award in Senegal on Tuesday 8. The 26-year-old Liverpool star finished first with club-mate Senegalese Sadio Mane and Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the other finalists.
Mohamed Salah retains African Player of the Year award
Marcus Rashford in form of life Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford (No. 10) celebrating scoring his goal with Luke Shaw and other teammates yesterday as the Red Devils beat Leicester 1-0 to
Marcus Rashford Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts
I trust him - Solskjaer refusing to drop struggling De Gea When asked if he was considering taking De Gea out of his starting line-up, Solskjaer replied: "No, not at all. I trust David.
I trust him - Solskjaer refusing to drop struggling De Gea
The Project Gutenberg eBook, Where the Pavement Ends, by John Russell This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen