Messi Shines As Barcelona Spank Celta Vigo

By Daily Sports on November 10, 2019

Lionel Messi delivered an incredible dead-ball hat-trick on Saturday to steer Barcelona to a 4-1 victory over Celta Vigo and ease the pressure on his coach Ernesto Valverde.

Messi scored with a penalty and then a pair of sumptuous free-kicks either side of halftime after Lucas Olaza had briefly pulled Celta level with a free-kick of his own at Camp Nou. Sergio Busquets drove home to make sure of the win late on.

A 34th treble in La Liga puts Messi equal with Cristiano Ronaldo, while a much-needed win sends Barca above Real Madrid on goal difference and back to the top of the table at the end of a testing week.

Madrid had briefly claimed first place after continuing their own goal-surge by hammering Eibar 4-0, a game in which Karim Benzema scored twice and Eden Hazard exploded into life.

But while Madrid appear to be hitting their stride, Barcelona’s momentum had stalled. After losing to Levante and failing to break down Slavia Prague in the Champions League, scrutiny had again turned on Valverde and his future as Barcelona coach.

Barcelona’s disgruntled fans had whistled their team against Slavia in midweek and when Olaza equalised for Celta, that tension and restlessness threatened to return.

Instead, Messi took command, this hat-trick taking his tally to nine goals in seven games, 612 in total for his club.

Yet his precision from free-kicks is a skill the 32-year-old has worked on and improved in recent years, his conversion rate currently at four goals from his last seven attempts in the league.

The last time a player scored a hat-trick from set-pieces in La Liga was when Messi himself achieved the same feat in 2012 against Espanyol, albeit with two penalties and one free-kick.

There was good news for Barcelona too in the return of Luis Suarez, who came off the bench after recovering from a calf strain.

Messi scored his penalty in the 23rd minute after Joseph Aidoo had blocked Nelson Semedo’s cross with his hand.

It was Messi that conceded the foul for Olaza’s curling free-kick that was well-hit enough to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen, even if the goalkeeper might have been disappointed not to be able to get across. (SuperSport)

•PHOTO: Barcelona players

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 10, 2019


 

You may also like...
Rangers International At 51: The Journey So Far...

Chelsea to Challenge Fifa Transfer Ban at CAS...

Former U17 World Cup Golden Ball Winner Osondu...

BREAKING NEWS: Nigeria friendly with Burkina Faso cancelled...

Onigbinde Harps On Mutual, Maturity As Key To...

Golden Eaglets list of invitees almost ready

 

Latest News Osimhen sets Turkish transfer record, €70m above second Parker eyes Joshua rematch after Dubois bout Adesanya sends cryptic message to Boniface Oyome secures third consecutive IBB Ladies Open title African champion Opeyori sets sights on more titles Fasuba, Ogunkoya warn against over-reliance on NCAA athletes Nwaneri breaks Saka’s EPL record Seven potential additions to strengthen Eagles for W’Cup qualifiers Okocha remains Nigeria’s greatest player – actor Gavor Joshua backed to win another world title Foundation opens sports academy in Ogun UPDATED: Kenya, Ethiopia athletes win 2025 Lagos city marathon

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,302 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,448 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,478 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,117 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,078 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,065 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,876 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,432 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,521 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,176 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,618 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,042 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media