Messi gives Setien a winning start
Barcelona beat Granada 1-0 in new boss’ first match; Ronaldo pulls Juve four points clear in Serie A
MADRID:QUIQUE Setien may want a different Barcelona but he needed the same old Lionel Messi on Sunday as the Argentinian gave his new coach a winning start by scoring in a 1-0 victory over Granada.
Messi’s strike in the 76th minute decided a cagey contest at the Camp Nou and prevented the much-anticipated launch of Setien’s new era becoming something of a damp squib. The victory also sends Barca back to the top of La Liga on goal difference, after Real Madrid had briefly claimed first place following their win over Sevilla on Saturday.
“I have seen many things from the team today that I want to see. But I already saw some of them against Atletico (last weekend) because Barca has been doing great things for many years,” said Setien
It would have been different if Granada’s Yan Eteki hadn’t struck the post with just over 20 minutes left or their central defender German Sanchez not been sent off for a needless second yellow card soon after.
The extra man was the boost Barca needed and Messi duly poked home his 17th goal in 21 games this season, following good work by Arturo Vidal, Antoine
Griezmann and the 20-year-old Riqui Puig.
All three had reasons to impress, particularly Puig, whose inclusion on the bench was an early indication of Setien’s belief in youth. Puig’s contribution after coming on should mean more opportunities are to come.
Setien said last week that if he could make one guarantee, it was that Barcelona would play good football while he is in charge and although few could argue this was a transformative display following the sacking of Ernesto Valverde, there were certainly some encouraging signs.
RONALDO BRACE FIRES JUVE TO 2-1 WIN
MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice to continue his sensational scoring run and help move Juventus four points clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win over Parma on Sunday.
The 34-year-old’s deflected shot opened the scoring in the first half, but Juve were pegged back after the break when Andreas Cornelius headed in from a corner.
Ronaldo restored the home side’s advantage just three minutes later with a low strike that took his tally for the season to 16 league goals, 11 of which have come in his last seven appearances. “We knew that Inter drew and Lazio won, so it was important to build an advantage,” Ronaldo told Sky Sport Italia. “They were two important goals, it was a tough game as Parma are very organised and difficult to beat, but we fought hard and got the victory.”
Maurizio Sarri’s side sit on top of the table with 51 points, four clear of second-placed Inter Milan following their draw at Lecce earlier in the day, while Parma are seventh on 28 points.
Ronaldo lit up an uneventful first half with the game’s first goal twominutesbeforethehalf time by cutting inside and firing in a finish, aided by a deflection off Parma defender Matteo Darmian. The goal made former Real Madrid star the first Juve player to score in seven consecutive Serie A appearances since David Trezeguet in December 2005.
Parma drew level on the 56th minute when Cornelius guided in a header from a corner, but
Ronaldo responded with his second just two minutes later.
The visitors pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, but it was Ronaldo forced a save from Luigi Sepe before firing a shot wide as he searched in vain for a hat-trick.
ARSENAL EYE WIN AGAINST CHELSEA
LONDON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes there is still time for his side to stage a challenge for a top-four Premier League finish if they beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Chelsea are in pole position for the fourth Champions League place as they hold a five-point cushion over Manchester United and Wolves and are 10 clear of Arsenal, who are down in 10th. The Gunners have won just once in five league games since Arteta took charge last month, but their only defeat in that run came against Frank Lampard’s men on the Spaniard’s home debut.
Arsenal were deservedly leading 1-0 until two Chelsea goals in the last 10 minutes changed the complexion of the game. “It’s very, very important for us to win this game to fight for that. The game we played at home, it could have made a big difference and we were very close to it. Tomorrow we need to win,” Arteta said.