Messi takes tally to 82 in Barca victory
Source: AFP |
November 27, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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LIONEL Messi struck twice as Barcelona won 4-0 at Levante on Sunday to remain three points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Messi's goals were both laid on by Andres Iniesta who also hit the target himself before supplying Cesc Fabregas for the fourth.
The Argentine's brace means he now has 82 goals in 2012, just six short of German legend Gerd Mueller's all-time calendar record set in 1972. He also tops the La Liga charts for the season with 19 goals.
Atletico had earlier beaten Sevilla 4-0 to keep pace at the top and go eight points ahead of city rival Real Madrid, which who had lost 0-1 away to Betis on Saturday.
Barcelona's win increases its gap over Real to 11 points, but coach Tito Vilanova does not see the league as being won so early in the season. "The league is not over, we're only a third through and Atletico are three points behind us. There is a lot to play for. We have been 11 ahead of Real before and we suffered a lot in the end," he said.
Barcelona had struggled in the first half and its cause was not helped by losing Dani Alves after only 13 minutes with what appeared to be a recurrence of a recent hamstring injury.
When his replacement Martin Montoya took the pitch it meant Barcelona's full side had also starred for the club at youth level.
Jose Maria Barkero had the best chance of the opening exchanges for Levante, drawing Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes into a save with a 12th-minute drive.
The visitors finally found a way through just after the break and it was from a perfectly threaded pass from Iniesta that allowed Messi to coolly slot home.
Five minutes later, Iniesta was the provider again, the little midfielder pulling back the ball for Messi to double the lead. Another five minutes had passed before Iniesta buried Levante's challenge for good with a drive from the edge of the area. The fourth came in the 63rd, this time Fabregas finishing off another Iniesta pass.
For Atletico, Radamel Falcao, Arda Turan and Koke got first-half goals and Miranda one in the last minute to make it seven straight home wins in the league against Sevilla which played with 10 men from the 22nd and finished with nine.
Messi's goals were both laid on by Andres Iniesta who also hit the target himself before supplying Cesc Fabregas for the fourth.
The Argentine's brace means he now has 82 goals in 2012, just six short of German legend Gerd Mueller's all-time calendar record set in 1972. He also tops the La Liga charts for the season with 19 goals.
Atletico had earlier beaten Sevilla 4-0 to keep pace at the top and go eight points ahead of city rival Real Madrid, which who had lost 0-1 away to Betis on Saturday.
Barcelona's win increases its gap over Real to 11 points, but coach Tito Vilanova does not see the league as being won so early in the season. "The league is not over, we're only a third through and Atletico are three points behind us. There is a lot to play for. We have been 11 ahead of Real before and we suffered a lot in the end," he said.
Barcelona had struggled in the first half and its cause was not helped by losing Dani Alves after only 13 minutes with what appeared to be a recurrence of a recent hamstring injury.
When his replacement Martin Montoya took the pitch it meant Barcelona's full side had also starred for the club at youth level.
Jose Maria Barkero had the best chance of the opening exchanges for Levante, drawing Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes into a save with a 12th-minute drive.
The visitors finally found a way through just after the break and it was from a perfectly threaded pass from Iniesta that allowed Messi to coolly slot home.
Five minutes later, Iniesta was the provider again, the little midfielder pulling back the ball for Messi to double the lead. Another five minutes had passed before Iniesta buried Levante's challenge for good with a drive from the edge of the area. The fourth came in the 63rd, this time Fabregas finishing off another Iniesta pass.
For Atletico, Radamel Falcao, Arda Turan and Koke got first-half goals and Miranda one in the last minute to make it seven straight home wins in the league against Sevilla which played with 10 men from the 22nd and finished with nine.
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