MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi continued his sublime form by netting his 31st La Liga hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Levante 5-0 on Sunday (Dec 16) to regain their three-point lead at the top of the table.
The 31-year-old Argentinian arrived in Valencia having scored two free-kicks in last weekend's derby thumping of Espanyol. He took his goals tally for the season to 20 after a virtuoso display, while also teeing up Luis Suarez's 35th-minute opener and Gerard Pique's late fifth.
Barca were under pressure after Atletico Madrid and second-placed Sevilla had both moved level on points with the Catalan giants.
But after resting his key stars for their final Champions League group-stage match against Tottenham in midweek, coach Ernesto Valverde saw his refreshed side cruise to a third straight league win without conceding a goal.
Levante started the game brightly and visiting goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was forced into an early save by Ghanaian Emmanuel Boateng.
But Barca did not take long to start moving through the gears, with Messi curling wide from long range before testing Oier Olazabal in the Levante goal with a free-kick.
Just seconds after Boateng hammered a left-footed strike against the crossbar, the reigning Spanish champions broke the deadlock as Messi jinked through a mesmerised home defence and picked out Suarez who volleyed home.
But Levante, who had ended Barcelona's dreams of going through last season's La Liga campaign unbeaten with a remarkable 5-4 victory in the penultimate game, came close to a quick response as Jose Luis Morales fired over.
The match was all but ended as a contest when Messi bore down on goal two minutes before half-time and drilled low into the net.
He wasted little time after the restart to add his second in the 47th minute, sweeping home Jordi Alba's clever cutback, before completing his treble with a simple tap-in from Arturo Vidal's square pass on the hour mark.
Messi has scored five goals in two league games since finishing only fifth in the voting for the Ballon d'Or earlier this month.
A bad evening for Levante worsened with 14 minutes to play, as left-back Erick Cabaco was sent off for a reckless lunge on Ousmane Dembele.
Centre-back Pique added further gloss to the scoreline in the 88th minute, rampaging forward to collect Messi's pass, before keeping his cool and rolling the ball home.
Sevilla keep up the paceÂ
Sevilla reclaimed second place earlier on Sunday as second-half strikes from Ever Banega and Pablo Sarabia sealed a 2-0 win over Girona.
Pablo Machin's side are unbeaten in seven league games since a 4-2 loss at Barcain October.
The hosts had to wait until the 55th minute to break the deadlock, when striker Andre Silva was tripped in the area by Girona defender Juanpe.
Argentinian Banega stepped up to send visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The points were wrapped up only nine minutes later, as Wissam Ben Yedder cut the ball back for the onrushing Sarabia to slide home his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
"In the first half they (Girona) were very good," said Machin.
"They were very organised and had good chances, when (Sevilla goalkeeper) Tomas (Vaclik) was splendid.
"In the second half we were the better team." Elsewhere, Villarreal were plunged further into crisis as Samuele Longo's 93rd-minute strike saw them held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Huesca.
Villarreal, who replaced Javier Calleja with Luis Garcia Plaza as coach in midweek, are only one point and one place above the relegation zone.
Real Betis eased to a 3-1 win at Espanyol to move into fifth place after a third successive league victory.
Giovani Lo Celso scored and missed a penalty for Betis, with Cristian Tello also on the scoresheet.
Espanyol, who led the table earlier in the season, have lost five straight matches to slip into the bottom half.
Buy Foiled Again! by Jack Wilds at jwpepper.com. Concert Band Sheet Music. Program this alternative to a traditional concert march as the opener or clo
Amazon.com: Hamilton Beach 76607 Smooth Touch Can Opener
France midfielder Paul Pogba believes England's Raheem Sterling is sometimes treated differently by the British media because he is black and does not get the recognition he deserves for his achievements. Speaking ahead of France's Euro 2020 qualifier against Moldova on Friday, the Manchester
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media
Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday. The win moves Juergen Klopps's side three points above second-placed
Premier League: Liverpool back on top after dominant win over
Hannes H. Gissurarson Lessons for Europe from the 2008 Icelandic bank collapse 10 11 New Direction - The Foundation for European Reform
Inside Chelsea: Kepa row, Spurs blast - where it all went wrong for stubborn Sarri CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri is under pressure ahead of Wednesday's Premier League clash with Tottenham.
Solskjaer makes effort to talk to Callum Hudson-Odoi after
Football: Liverpool's miracle comeback trumps Spurs', say
May 03, 2019 · Pep Guardiola is sure Liverpool will respond to defeat at Barcelona by beating Newcastle United and so maintain the pressure on Manchester City as the title race enters its last two games.. City
Son's Late Winner Gives Tottenham Champions League Edge Over Manchester City Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min's late goal sealed a 1-0 home victory against Manchester City in an
Son Heung-min's late winner gives Tottenham edge over
Tottenham are making quick progress towards the completion of their new stadium at White Hart Lane as they look to complete the lift of the roof in the coming weeks. Spurs want to return from
Liverpool hero makes bizarre Tottenham Hotspur Stadium claim
Brewers aim to keep momentum going vs. Pirates. Field Level Media May 31, 2019, 4:33 AM UTC. The Milwaukee Brewers don't need Christian Yelich to hit homers to win. After all, Yelich didn't add to
Rockets aim to keep momentum - YouTube
City will pounce if Liverpool slip up: Guardiola, Football
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his Manchester United squad they must be fit before pre-season or they will not go on tour. dailymail.co.uk - Joe Bernstein. Manchester United players have been given strict training programmes for their summer holidays — and been told to reach peak fitness before they …
Step Up or Ship Out - YouTube
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen