Record-setting Barcelona tops Atletico
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2011, Monday
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BARCELONA earned a record 16th straight win in the Spanish league by beating Atletico Madrid 3-0 with a Lionel Messi hat-trick on Saturday.
The historic win provisionally lifted Barcelona 10 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table ahead of its fierce rival's match against Real Sociedad later yesterday.
Messi decided the contest with two goals before the half-hour mark and added a third in the second half.
Barcelona's streak surpassed the 15 wins by Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid 50 years ago.
"It is an honor for this team to have surpassed a record that had stood for so long," Messi said.
Pep Guardiola's team has outscored its opponents 60-6 during the winning run that is the 10th longest in European history.
Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores left striker Diego Forlan out of the starting 11 and reinforced his midfield with former Barcelona youth academy product Fran Merida. But the move did not pay off, as Barcelona controlled the ball from the opening whistle.
Atletico resisted until Messi broke through for the two-time defending champion in the 17th.
Messi cut back from the right flank across the edge of the area, leaving behind three defenders before firing a left-footer into the right corner of David De Gea's goal.
Messi's second goal was product of a great team buildup. After Antonio Lopez touched it but could not clear, Pedro Rodriguez linked up with David Villa, who slipped the ball between two defenders for Messi to punch in.
"We would not be who we are without Messi on our team," said Guardiola. "To be a great team you need to have a standout player."
De Gea swatted a Messi header over the crossbar in the 73rd, but six minutes later Messi pounced to tap in a ball that De Gea blocked but could not hold. Messi has 40 goals in 33 games in all competitions.
Earlier, Levante handed Villarreal its first loss this season with a 1-0 win, and Athletic Bilbao beat 10-man Sporting Gijon 3-0 to move into fifth place ahead of Espanyol, which lost 2-3 at Almeria.
Also, Getafe downed Deportivo La Coruna 4-1, while Mallorca drew 1-1 at Osasuna and Racing Santander drew 1-1 at Zaragoza.
The historic win provisionally lifted Barcelona 10 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table ahead of its fierce rival's match against Real Sociedad later yesterday.
Messi decided the contest with two goals before the half-hour mark and added a third in the second half.
Barcelona's streak surpassed the 15 wins by Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid 50 years ago.
"It is an honor for this team to have surpassed a record that had stood for so long," Messi said.
Pep Guardiola's team has outscored its opponents 60-6 during the winning run that is the 10th longest in European history.
Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores left striker Diego Forlan out of the starting 11 and reinforced his midfield with former Barcelona youth academy product Fran Merida. But the move did not pay off, as Barcelona controlled the ball from the opening whistle.
Atletico resisted until Messi broke through for the two-time defending champion in the 17th.
Messi cut back from the right flank across the edge of the area, leaving behind three defenders before firing a left-footer into the right corner of David De Gea's goal.
Messi's second goal was product of a great team buildup. After Antonio Lopez touched it but could not clear, Pedro Rodriguez linked up with David Villa, who slipped the ball between two defenders for Messi to punch in.
"We would not be who we are without Messi on our team," said Guardiola. "To be a great team you need to have a standout player."
De Gea swatted a Messi header over the crossbar in the 73rd, but six minutes later Messi pounced to tap in a ball that De Gea blocked but could not hold. Messi has 40 goals in 33 games in all competitions.
Earlier, Levante handed Villarreal its first loss this season with a 1-0 win, and Athletic Bilbao beat 10-man Sporting Gijon 3-0 to move into fifth place ahead of Espanyol, which lost 2-3 at Almeria.
Also, Getafe downed Deportivo La Coruna 4-1, while Mallorca drew 1-1 at Osasuna and Racing Santander drew 1-1 at Zaragoza.
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