Messi breaks Barca goal record
Print Edition
LIONEL Messi scored a hat-trick to become Barcelona’s all-time top scorer as the Catalans warmed up for next weekend’s El Clasico against Real Madrid with a 7-0 victory over Osasuna that put them four points off the top of La Liga.
The Argentine now has 371 goals for Barcelona in all matches, surpassing the record of Paulino Alcantara, who played for the club between 1912 and 1927 and notched up 369 goals.
Messi scored the first in the 18th minute and Alexis Sanchez pounced to double the lead after 22 minutes. Andres Iniesta hit a fine left-foot drive from 20 yards with little over half an hour gone. Chances continued to come and go before Messi bagged another with a shot into the roof of the net just after the hour before substitute Cristian Tello netted with a powerful strike.
Messi was given time in the area to score his third late on, his 18th of the season, and he then set up Pedro to complete the rout in stoppage time.
“As long as the people want me here I will stay here. My intention is to retire with the Barcelona shirt,” Messi said.
Looking ahead to the Clasico, he added: “Hopefully, we can play a good game. We know it will be difficult but we will do our best to fight for the league until the end.”
Elsewhere, Sevilla beat Valladolid 4-1 while Elche and Real Betis drew 0-0.
In Italy, Andrea Pirlo’s late goal saw Juventus maintain its charge to a third successive Serie A title as it beat Genoa 1-0 to extend its lead to 17 points. Pirlo fired in a freekick two minutes from time as Juventus struggled to win after Gianluigi Buffon had saved Emanuele Calaio’s penalty.
Earlier, AC Milan fought back from two goals down but lost 2-4 at home to Parma after playing almost the entire match with 10 men.
In England, Tomas Rosicky fired Arsenal back into the Premier League title race as the Czech midfielder’s rocket strike clinched a crucial 1-0 win over north London rival Tottenham. Arsene Wenger’s side moved to within four points of the leader with a game in hand.
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