Higuain lifts Real Madrid, Messi fires Barcelona
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GONZALO Higuain's clinical hat-trick fired Real Madrid back to the top of La Liga on Sunday after three sublime goals from Lionel Messi had briefly lifted Barcelona back above its arch-rival.
The Spanish giants, level on 65 points from 26 matches, pulled further away at the top as Barcelona defeated third-placed Valencia 3-0 at the Nou Camp and Real romped to a 4-1 victory at struggling Real Valladolid in the late kickoff.
Real, dumped out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon in midweek, led champion Baarcelona on goal difference and Valencia was 18 points back on 47. Sevilla, which drew 1-1 with Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday, was fourth on 44.
After a draw and a defeat in its previous four La Liga matches, Barcelona needed a convincing performance at the Nou Camp to get its title defense back on course and again it was league top-scorer Messi who made the difference.
The European champion found it difficult to exert its customary dominance in a goalless first half before Messi weaved through the Valencia defense in the 56th minute and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez.
Substitute Thierry Henry, who scored a hat-trick against Valencia last season, then set Messi up for his 21st and 22nd goals of the campaign.
"Messi is the best player in the world and makes everything easier," said assistant Barca coach Tito Vilanova, on the bench in place of the suspended Pep Guardiola.
Real went top on goal difference last weekend after Barcelona was held 2-2 at Almeria but the club was rocked on Wednesday when Lyon shattered its dream of winning a 10th European title in May.
Elsewhere, it was: Villarreal 2, Xerez 0; Tenerife 4, Espanyol 1; Racing Santander 0, Real Zaragoza 0; and Almeria 1, Malaga 0.
The Spanish giants, level on 65 points from 26 matches, pulled further away at the top as Barcelona defeated third-placed Valencia 3-0 at the Nou Camp and Real romped to a 4-1 victory at struggling Real Valladolid in the late kickoff.
Real, dumped out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon in midweek, led champion Baarcelona on goal difference and Valencia was 18 points back on 47. Sevilla, which drew 1-1 with Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday, was fourth on 44.
After a draw and a defeat in its previous four La Liga matches, Barcelona needed a convincing performance at the Nou Camp to get its title defense back on course and again it was league top-scorer Messi who made the difference.
The European champion found it difficult to exert its customary dominance in a goalless first half before Messi weaved through the Valencia defense in the 56th minute and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez.
Substitute Thierry Henry, who scored a hat-trick against Valencia last season, then set Messi up for his 21st and 22nd goals of the campaign.
"Messi is the best player in the world and makes everything easier," said assistant Barca coach Tito Vilanova, on the bench in place of the suspended Pep Guardiola.
Real went top on goal difference last weekend after Barcelona was held 2-2 at Almeria but the club was rocked on Wednesday when Lyon shattered its dream of winning a 10th European title in May.
Elsewhere, it was: Villarreal 2, Xerez 0; Tenerife 4, Espanyol 1; Racing Santander 0, Real Zaragoza 0; and Almeria 1, Malaga 0.
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