Barcelona Players Celebrating Their Victory. Image Source: Facebook@Barcelona[/caption]Internet Desk: Barcelona went six points clear at the top of the table with Lionel Messi getting passed his 300th goal (301 goals) of La Liga after thrashing Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Messi gave up the chance to become the first player to reach such a goal tally in Spain's top flight when he opted to pass his penalty kick to Luiz Suarez against Celta Vigo last week, but he struck midway through the first half to give Luis Enrique's side the lead.
The five-time World Player of the Year struck either side of Carlos Castro's well-worked equalizer in a three-goal burst in five first-half minutes.
Luiz Suarez missed a second-half penalty days after famously converting Messi's pass from a spot-kick against Celta Vigo, but made glory with a brilliant finish for Barca's third and digged the final nail in Gijon’s coffin in the 67th minute.
Atletico Madrid are Barca's closest challengers with Real Madrid a further point behind in third.
Luis Enrique also made five changes, but the star front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar started after their formiddable display in the 6-1 thrashing of Celta at the weekend.
The match had been postponed due to Barcelona's commitments in the Club World Cup in December and, with the match against relegation fighters Real Betis to come on Saturday, Sporting boss and former Barca defender Abelardo Fernandez made nine changes to his side from the team that started Friday's 2-2 draw with Rayo Vallecano.
Arda Turan, who started in place of rested captain Andres Iniesta, volleyed narrowly wide after being caught in two minds when picked out behind the Sporting backline, before Suarez was gathered by Cuellar, but Barca were comfortable in the closing stages as they saw out their seventh league win in a row.
0 comments:
Post a Comment