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Messi strikes late as Barca labors to put away Bilbao
Source: Agencies |
February 22, 2011, Tuesday
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LIONEL Messi settled Barcelona nerves with a late goal to earn a thrilling 2-1 home victory over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday, ending a turbulent week for the Catalans on a positive note.
The team often described as the best in the world had drawn with Sporting Gijon and lost to Arsenal in the Champions League and when Bilbao's Andoni Iraola leveled with a second-half penalty at the Nou Camp, it was clearly rattled.
With Real Madrid having narrowed its lead at the top to two points with a 2-0 win over Levante on Saturday, Barcelona was uncharacteristically rushed as it poured forward looking for the winner.
"We couldn't allow ourselves another slip-up because Madrid were close. Every game is vital," Messi told Spanish television. "Bilbao were very organized in the way they put us under pressure and played very well. These are three important points."
Barcelona moved on to 65 points from 24 matches with Real on 60.
Fourth-placed Villarreal's faltering form continued when it was held 1-1 at home by basement side Malaga and Osasuna's new coach Jose Luis Mendilibar led his team to a stunning 4-0 win over sixth-placed Espanyol. The goal of the day came from Deportivo Coruna goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia, who headed a last-ditch equalizer for a 1-1 draw at Almeria.
Barcelona's 16-match winning streak in the league ended with a 1-1 draw at Gijon last weekend and a 1-2 defeat at Arsenal in the Champions League last Wednesday suggested the Spanish champion was suffering a dip in form.
Those doubts appeared misplaced when Xavi's diagonal pass over the defense found the overlapping Dani Alves who cushioned a volley inside for David Villa to fire first time into the corner after only four minutes.
For all its domination, however, it could not find a second and when Sergio Busquets brought down Fernando Llorente for a penalty, Iraola's 49th-minute spot kick increased the tension in the stadium.
Just when it seemed the visitors were going to deny it, Xavi picked out Alves again and he crossed for Messi to score in the 77th.
The team often described as the best in the world had drawn with Sporting Gijon and lost to Arsenal in the Champions League and when Bilbao's Andoni Iraola leveled with a second-half penalty at the Nou Camp, it was clearly rattled.
With Real Madrid having narrowed its lead at the top to two points with a 2-0 win over Levante on Saturday, Barcelona was uncharacteristically rushed as it poured forward looking for the winner.
"We couldn't allow ourselves another slip-up because Madrid were close. Every game is vital," Messi told Spanish television. "Bilbao were very organized in the way they put us under pressure and played very well. These are three important points."
Barcelona moved on to 65 points from 24 matches with Real on 60.
Fourth-placed Villarreal's faltering form continued when it was held 1-1 at home by basement side Malaga and Osasuna's new coach Jose Luis Mendilibar led his team to a stunning 4-0 win over sixth-placed Espanyol. The goal of the day came from Deportivo Coruna goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia, who headed a last-ditch equalizer for a 1-1 draw at Almeria.
Barcelona's 16-match winning streak in the league ended with a 1-1 draw at Gijon last weekend and a 1-2 defeat at Arsenal in the Champions League last Wednesday suggested the Spanish champion was suffering a dip in form.
Those doubts appeared misplaced when Xavi's diagonal pass over the defense found the overlapping Dani Alves who cushioned a volley inside for David Villa to fire first time into the corner after only four minutes.
For all its domination, however, it could not find a second and when Sergio Busquets brought down Fernando Llorente for a penalty, Iraola's 49th-minute spot kick increased the tension in the stadium.
Just when it seemed the visitors were going to deny it, Xavi picked out Alves again and he crossed for Messi to score in the 77th.
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