EIBAR, SPAIN (REUTERS) - Barcelona captain and La Liga top scorer Lionel Messi rounded off a spectacular season by netting twice in a 2-2 draw away to Eibar in the champions’ final game on Sunday (May 19), taking his tally to a remarkable 36 league goals.
Eibar went ahead in the 20th minute with a strike from Barca’s on-loan midfielder Marc Cucurella which squirmed under keeper Jasper Cillessen but Messi levelled in the 31st after sneaking into the box to meet a pass from Arturo Vidal.
Messi struck again a minute later, racing through the middle unchallenged to latch on to a pass from Ivan Rakitic and calmly chip the outstretched keeper Marko Dmitrovic.
But Eibar’s Pablo de Blasis levelled right before halftime with a superb one-touch strike from long range after the ball fell into his path following a desperate header away from Cillessen, who looked in shaky form ahead of next week’s Copa del Rey final against Valencia.
“When you have nothing at stake you are always less keen in a game, in the end we drew but I think we have ended the season well,†said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.
“We have been champions for a while now, we were very consistent throughout the campaign. We had a few difficulties early in the season, but we overcame them.†Malcom and Gerard Pique missed second-half chances for the champions while Cucurella spurned an even better opportunity to snatch a winner for Eibar, who have still never managed to beat Barca in the top flight.
Messi had a difficult chance to score again and complete a hat-trick but sent his shot well over the bar.
The Argentine still finished the campaign as La Liga’s top scorer for a third year in a row, the first player to do so since Hugo Sanchez of Real Madrid in 1987.
He also joined the late former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra as the only players in the league’s history to be top scorer six times.
Messi scored 15 goals more than his nearest challengers, Barca team mate Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema who both netted 21 times.
Barca, who clinched an eighth title in 11 seasons with three games to spare, finished the campaign on 87 points, 11 clear of runners-up Atletico Madrid and 19 ahead of Real Madrid in third.
Their focus now turns to beating Valencia in next week’s Cup final in Seville to complete a second consecutive domestic double.
Their season, however, is still likely to be overshadowed by their Champions League semi-final elimination to Liverpool.
Sport's News. Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar
Griezmann Fires Atletico Level With Barcelona. the Spanish League football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and RCD Espanyol at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Decemeber 22
La Liga: Red-hot Griezmann fires Atletico level with Barcelona
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool powered back to the top of the Premier League as Xherdan Shaqiri inspired a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United, while Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run was
Liverpool back on top as Shaqiri sinks United, Arsenal's
Football: After goalie Casillas' heart attack, wife Sara says
Business BlackRock aims to be a top asset manager in China, Fink says. Investment giant sees Asia driving 50% of growth over next five years
US-China rivalry may become dangerous, Asian leaders and
Our editor discovers the joys and sorrows of a vow of silence. it's as if you died and the world continued on. This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of SUCCESS
PDF Og Mandino's Ten Vows of Success - CAS
Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of
Cardiff players afraid to fly after Emiliano Sala tragedy
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes the club have raised the standard of the Premier League just as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus did in golf and Usain Bolt did in athletics. City won the title last season with 100 points and this year could retain it with 98 if they win their final three games, starting with Burnley on Sunday.
Guardiola says City, Liverpool have set new Premier League
MADRID • It may be only five days since Jose Mourinho's sacking by Manchester United, but the Portuguese could be back in management sooner rather than later.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Sacked Mourinho heading back to Madrid? - theworldnews.net
Soccer: Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling
From Bielsa With Love! Leeds manager admits sending spy to Derby - Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending a member of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship football match.
Leeds manager Bielsa admits sending spy to Derby - Reuters
Football: Improved Denis Suarez ready to make impact, say Unai Emery LONDON • With Granit Xhaka facing a late fitness test and Lucas Torreira suspended, Unai Emery has challenged Denis Suarez to finally make an impact in Arsenal's bid to climb back into the Premier League's top four.
Improved Suarez ready to make impact: Emery
"He's unstoppable," said Klopp afterwards. "Obviously we couldn't defend the free-kick. Klopp hails Salah's goal against Chelsea. Salah targets place in Liverpool record books.
Klopp on 'amazing' Liverpool, Salah, wind - ProSoccerTalk
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at Manchester United, Paul Pogba sent off Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe scored with assists from Angel Di Maria as Paris St Germain beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Football: PSG take charge with 2-0 win at United, Pogba sent off
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen