Messi fires Barca to victory over Getafe

MADRID: Lionel Messi gave up the chance for a hat-trick on Thursday as Barcelona held off a late fightback from Getafe to win 5-2 and stay in the race at the top of La Liga. Messi scored twice and could have had a third in injury-time at Camp Nou but deferred a penalty to Antoine Griezmann, who completed what was in the end a comfortable victory. “He’s the best in the world, he never lets up,” said Barca coach Ronald Koeman. “If he lowers his concentration you never notice. Hopefully he stays for many more years.”

After beating Athletic Bilbao to lift the Copa del Rey last weekend, Barca are now in the hunt for the double, sitting five points behind Atletico Madrid but still with a game in hand. Atletico had earlier brushed aside Huesca 2-0 to register back-toback victories for the first time since January and with Real Madrid also seeing off Cadiz on

Wednesday, there is no margin for error now in a thrilling battle for the title.

Leicester win

LEICESTER: Jamie Vardy ended his two-month goal drought as Leicester blitzed West Brom 3-0 on Thursday to strengthen their grip on a Premier League topfour place and snuff out the Baggies’ revival. Brendan Rodgers’ men were wobbling after losing their previous two top-flight matches but produced a dazzling attacking display against the insipid visitors at the King Power Stadium. First-half goals from Jamie Vardy, Jonny Evans and Kelechi Iheanacho gave West Brom a mountain to climb and Leicester kept a firm grip on the match after the break.

Bilbao, Dublin dropped

MANCHESTER: Seville has replaced Bilbao as a host city for Euro 2020 with St Petersburg, already a host venue, taking the three group stage games from Dublin, UEFA said on Friday.