Messi shines as Barca stays on top
Source: Agencies |
January 12, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIONEL Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona routed Tenerife 5-0 on Sunday to maintain its two-point advantage in the Spanish league.
Barcelona's closest rival Real Madrid also won, beating Mallorca 2-0 thanks to goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Esteban Granero.
Alejandro Alfaro had three good chances to put the hosts ahead but the Tenerife striker hit the crossbar on the first occasion and goalkeeper Victor Valdes foiled his other two efforts from inside the area.
Those missed chances proved costly as Messi scored the opener in the 36th minute after receiving the ball from Bojan Krkic inside the area.
The recently crowned world player of the year then turned provider, as it was his free kick from the right that Carles Puyol headed home in the 44th and, a minute later, Andres Iniesta broke out of the midfield, spotted Krkic down the left side and the teenage striker again set up Messi for an easy tap in.
The Argentina international joined Valencia's David Villa as the league's joint leading scorer with his 12th goal of the season to complete his hat-trick in the 75th after curling a left-footed shot from outside the area over goalkeeper Sergio Aragoneses into the top corner.
Ezequiel Luna completed the rout with an own-goal in the 85th.
Snowy victory
In contrast to the balmy weather at Tenerife's Heliodro Rodriguez Lopo stadium, Higuain helped Madrid keep the pressure on Barcelona with a victory in steady snowfall in the Spanish capital.
The Argentina striker darted in from the right and across the edge of the area before curling a left-footed shot around goalkeeper Dudu Aouate into the top corner for his 11th goal of the season.
Higuain then slipped past a defender in the 50th and crossed to Granero who volleyed past Aouate.
Elsewhere, Valencia beat last-place Xerez 3-1 to stay third, while Deportivo La Coruna was a 1-0 winner over Osasuna.
Barcelona leads the table with 43 points, Madrid has 41, Valencia 35, Deportivo 31 while Sevilla and Mallorca are both on 30.
Madrid welcomed Kaka back from injury in blustery conditions at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"It was a complicated game not only for the weather conditions but for team changes, like the additions of (Fernando) Gago and Kaka, who had a great game against a very motivated rival," Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini said. "We played a very complete game."
At the Chapin Stadium in Xerez, Juanma Mata put Valencia ahead after 11 minutes before Carlos Calvo equalized for Xerez in the 25th.
Valencia regained the lead in the 33rd as David Silva looped a shot into the net.
Carlos Marchena sealed the win in the 69th.
Barcelona's closest rival Real Madrid also won, beating Mallorca 2-0 thanks to goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Esteban Granero.
Alejandro Alfaro had three good chances to put the hosts ahead but the Tenerife striker hit the crossbar on the first occasion and goalkeeper Victor Valdes foiled his other two efforts from inside the area.
Those missed chances proved costly as Messi scored the opener in the 36th minute after receiving the ball from Bojan Krkic inside the area.
The recently crowned world player of the year then turned provider, as it was his free kick from the right that Carles Puyol headed home in the 44th and, a minute later, Andres Iniesta broke out of the midfield, spotted Krkic down the left side and the teenage striker again set up Messi for an easy tap in.
The Argentina international joined Valencia's David Villa as the league's joint leading scorer with his 12th goal of the season to complete his hat-trick in the 75th after curling a left-footed shot from outside the area over goalkeeper Sergio Aragoneses into the top corner.
Ezequiel Luna completed the rout with an own-goal in the 85th.
Snowy victory
In contrast to the balmy weather at Tenerife's Heliodro Rodriguez Lopo stadium, Higuain helped Madrid keep the pressure on Barcelona with a victory in steady snowfall in the Spanish capital.
The Argentina striker darted in from the right and across the edge of the area before curling a left-footed shot around goalkeeper Dudu Aouate into the top corner for his 11th goal of the season.
Higuain then slipped past a defender in the 50th and crossed to Granero who volleyed past Aouate.
Elsewhere, Valencia beat last-place Xerez 3-1 to stay third, while Deportivo La Coruna was a 1-0 winner over Osasuna.
Barcelona leads the table with 43 points, Madrid has 41, Valencia 35, Deportivo 31 while Sevilla and Mallorca are both on 30.
Madrid welcomed Kaka back from injury in blustery conditions at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"It was a complicated game not only for the weather conditions but for team changes, like the additions of (Fernando) Gago and Kaka, who had a great game against a very motivated rival," Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini said. "We played a very complete game."
At the Chapin Stadium in Xerez, Juanma Mata put Valencia ahead after 11 minutes before Carlos Calvo equalized for Xerez in the 25th.
Valencia regained the lead in the 33rd as David Silva looped a shot into the net.
Carlos Marchena sealed the win in the 69th.
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