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.
Spanish La Liga's organising body says it does not expect its President, Javier Tebas, to jump ship to the English Premier League (EPL). The declaration was in response to British media reports that the Spaniard has emerged as a candidate to become the English top-flight's chief executive. "We are not aware of this supposed interest.
La Liga flattered by reported Premier League interest in
Newport County goalkeeper Joe Day made a swift exit after their FA Cup tie; Joe Day cut short FA Cup celebrations to see his pregnant wife celebrations short as his wife went into labour
Newport keeper skips FA Cup celebrations after wife goes into
LONDON (REUTERS) - AFC Wimbledon delivered an FA Cup fourth-round shock as the League One strugglers humbled Premier League West Ham United 4-2 in a gripping tie in south-west London on Saturday
AFC Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref rant Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for insulting match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock exit from this season's tournament to Manchester United.
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over referee
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans
Football: Arsenal beaten by BATE in Europa League as
LONDON • Vincent Kompany believes that he has a duty to tackle the issue of homelessness in Manchester, which he has called home for the past 10 years.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Manchester's homeless in good Kompany - theworldnews.net
City must beat Liverpool to stay in title race: Guardiola Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero looks on during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and
We must beat Liverpool to stay in title race: Guardiola
Football: Mohamed Salah retains African award to seal great day for Egypt Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (front) celebrates scoring a goal with Adam Lallana and Virgil van Dijk. PHOTO: REUTERS
Salah retains African award to seal great day for Egypt
Noh meaning in Urdu: جاپان کا روایتی ڈراما جِس میں رقص اور موسیقی بھی شامل ہوتی ہے - Japan ka riwayati drama jiss mein raqs aur moseeqi bhi shaamil hoti hai meaning, Definition Synonyms at English to Urdu dictionary gives you the best and accurate urdu translation and meanings of Noh and Japan ka riwayati drama jiss mein raqs aur moseeqi bhi
8 Fun Corporate Team-Building Activities In Singapore Even
Griezmann on target again as Atletico edge closer to Barca Griezmann could have been playing for Barca had his decision been different last summer but instead he is fast-becoming the sharpest
Football: Griezmann on target again as Atletico edge closer
Football: Female staff member of Hougang United charged with CBT over $278,000 clubhouse funds. Hougang United said the police report was made on the day of the incident in December 2018 and the
S$278,200 missing from Hougang United Football Club; employee
LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur gained revenge over north London rivals Arsenal as goals by Son Heung-min and Dele Alli earned a 2-0 victory on Wednesday to put them into the League
Football: Tottenham take revenge on Arsenal to reach League
Shell-shocked Real Madrid Knocked Out of Champions League by Brilliant Ajax The humiliating defeat completed a miserable week for Real Madrid, who have monopolised the competition since 2016 and are now left with nothing to fight for this season after back-to-back defeats to Barcelona had knocked them out of the Copa del Rey.
Shellshocked Real knocked out of Champions League by
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer live stream app
watch premier league live streaming vk
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming kenya
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live in stream
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch premier league live streaming video
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch premier league live stream hd
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming match
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch soccer game live now
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming uk
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch premier league live streaming online
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch the champions league live stream
how to watch soccer live streaming free
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch champions league draw live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch indian premier league live streaming
tv soccer live stream sky
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch live soccer online free streaming now
#football #midnight #4Series #streamingbolaid #coffeebreak #footballfans #Celtic #arsenalfantv #kopisusu #visubal #messi #Liamgallagher #realmadrid #sixtimes #nikesoccer #golf #arsenalnews #beatifulgame #Vip45 #footballmeme #neymar #cristiano #JUVENTUS #premierleague #Fcb #footballmemes #championship #realmadridcf #oasis #oasisofficial #pagani #champion #Liverpool #commentimemorabili #elcasico #juventus #soccerbible #seriea #league2 #freekick #manchestercity #portsmouthfc #lovefootball #cappucino #liverpoolfans #frasirap #lionelmessi #mancityvsliverpool #liverpoolfc #acmilan #cr7 #fut #livesports #tokyo
No comments:
Post a Comment