Messi scores two, leads Barca to 5-1 rout of Valladolid
It was one of those special nights for Lionel Messi, filled with beautiful goals, pinpoint assists and plenty of praise from teammates and opponents.
Messi scored two goals and set up two more as Barcelona extended their winning streak and regained the Spanish league lead by comfortably defeating Valladolid 5-1 on Tuesday.
“We can only applaud and enjoy,” Valladolid captain Míchel Herrero said. Messi scored a goal in each half, including his 50th from a free kick, as Barcelona won their seventh straight game in all competitions since the Argentina star returned to the starting lineup after a long injury layoff. “I don’t know what else to say,” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said. “We always know he will do something special.”
Clement Lenglet, Arturo Vidal and Luis Suárez also scored to give Barcelona a two-point lead over Granada, who visit Getafe on Thursday. Atlético Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Alavés on Tuesday, also stayed two points off the lead.
INTER BACK ON TOP
MILAN: Inter Milan moved back atop the Serie A standings with a 2-1 win at struggling Brescia on Tuesday. Goals in each half from Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku sent Inter two points above eight-time defending champion Juventus, who host Genoa on Wednesday.
The Nerazzurri took the lead with a stroke of luck in the 23rd minute as Martinez’s long-range effort deflected off Andrea Cistana and looped over Brescia goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso and into the back of the net. Lukaku doubled Inter’s lead in the 63rd minute, racing down the right before cutting inside and curling the ball into the left side of the goal. The home side did get one back as Dimitri Bisoli’s effort took a double deflection off Handanovic and Milan Skriniar. It went down as an own goal to the Inter defender and set up a nervy final 15 minutes.
MAN CITY ADVANCE
LONDON: Defending champion Manchester City advanced to the quarter-finals of the English League Cup on Tuesday alongside Leicester and Everton on a night void of any upsets.
City earned a routine 3-1 victory against fellow Premier League team Southampton, who were still reeling from Friday’s 9-0 home loss to Leicester. Sergio Aguero marked his 350th City appearance with a goal in each half after fellow Argentina international Nicolas Otamendi had headed City in front in the 20th minute. Everton also beat Premier League opposition, with a win over Watford. Mason Holgate scored his first goal for Everton in the 72nd and Richarlison sealed the match in stoppage time.