Xavi, Messi power Barca past Sevilla
Source: Agencies |
March 19, 2012, Monday
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A XAVI free-kick and an exquisite lob from Lionel Messi fired Barcelona to a 2-0 win at Sevilla that cut Real Madrid's lead at the top of the Spanish La Liga back to seven points on Saturday.
Xavi curled a shot over the wall after 18 minutes and World Player of the Year Messi bagged his 31st of the league campaign soon after.
The Argentine started the move deep in midfield playing a one-two with Andres Iniesta, he nutmegged a defender as he skipped into the area, and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Andres Palop.
Messi has 14 goals in his last six games, including becoming the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game 10 days ago. Messi's 150th league goal moved him one behind league leader Cristiano Ronaldo and within four of matching Cesar Rodriguez's club record 235.
Having carved a host of first-half chances, however, Barcelona spent much of the second period pegged back as both goalkeepers Palop and Victor Valdes made top-class saves.
The champion held firm and moved on to 63 points from 27 games.
Jose Mourinho's Real, on 70 points, can restore its 10-point advantage if it can beat fourth-placed Malaga at the Bernabeu later yesterday.
"We played very well in the first half and we scored two goals and could have got more, but the second half was a different story," Pique told Spanish television. "We have done our job now we need to see what happens tomorrow. At least they (Real) go out knowing we are there behind them and we are still in the fight."
Both sides came out at the start of the match wearing shirts in support of Barcelona's French defender Eric Abidal, who found out he needed a liver transplant during the week.
When asked about Abidal Barcelona's Argentine defender Javier Mascherano told Spanish television: "I don't like to mix football with things that happen off the pitch, but if the victory serves to give him a lift, all well and good."
Osasuna climbed to fifth with 29 points after grabbing a late equalizer to draw 1-1 at basement side Real Zaragoza.
Elsewhere, it was: Rayo Vallecano 3, Real Betis 0; Granada 2, Sporting Gijon 1; and Getafe 1, Real Sociedad 0.
Xavi curled a shot over the wall after 18 minutes and World Player of the Year Messi bagged his 31st of the league campaign soon after.
The Argentine started the move deep in midfield playing a one-two with Andres Iniesta, he nutmegged a defender as he skipped into the area, and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Andres Palop.
Messi has 14 goals in his last six games, including becoming the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game 10 days ago. Messi's 150th league goal moved him one behind league leader Cristiano Ronaldo and within four of matching Cesar Rodriguez's club record 235.
Having carved a host of first-half chances, however, Barcelona spent much of the second period pegged back as both goalkeepers Palop and Victor Valdes made top-class saves.
The champion held firm and moved on to 63 points from 27 games.
Jose Mourinho's Real, on 70 points, can restore its 10-point advantage if it can beat fourth-placed Malaga at the Bernabeu later yesterday.
"We played very well in the first half and we scored two goals and could have got more, but the second half was a different story," Pique told Spanish television. "We have done our job now we need to see what happens tomorrow. At least they (Real) go out knowing we are there behind them and we are still in the fight."
Both sides came out at the start of the match wearing shirts in support of Barcelona's French defender Eric Abidal, who found out he needed a liver transplant during the week.
When asked about Abidal Barcelona's Argentine defender Javier Mascherano told Spanish television: "I don't like to mix football with things that happen off the pitch, but if the victory serves to give him a lift, all well and good."
Osasuna climbed to fifth with 29 points after grabbing a late equalizer to draw 1-1 at basement side Real Zaragoza.
Elsewhere, it was: Rayo Vallecano 3, Real Betis 0; Granada 2, Sporting Gijon 1; and Getafe 1, Real Sociedad 0.
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