Messi keeps Barcelona top
madrid — Lionel Messi stole the show with two free-kick goals in a blistering display as Barcelona maintained their lead at the top of La Liga with a thumping 4-0 derby win over Catalan rivals Espanyol.
The Argentine superstar curled home two sensational set-pieces and set up another goal as he and his teammates romped to victory at the RCDE Stadium and made sure Barca kept chasing Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at bay.
Atleti and Sevilla had moved level on 28 points with Barca on Saturday after Diego Simeone’s side defeated Alaves 3-0 and the Andalusians drew 1-1 at Valencia.
However Messi made sure that Ernesto Valverde’s team kept their place at the top of the pile with a mesmerising display alongside front-three partners Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele that left Espanyol dead and buried by half-time.
“He is extraordinary,” said Valverde. “The free-kicks, the MADRID — Lionel Messi insisted his fifth-place finish in Monday’s Ballon d’Or awards was not a motivating factor behind his sensational performance in Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of local rivals Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
The Argentine forward scored two masterful free kicks and created a goal for Ousmane chances on goal that he creates, what he brings us and what he take from the opponent...
Messi began the rout in the 17th minute with a perfectly placed freekick that arched past a desperate Diego Lopez, and followed that up by keeping possession under intense pressure before providing the pass for Dembele from which the French attacker curled in a fine second.
It was then Dembele’s turn to Dembele among highlights in a bewitching individual display.
Messi did not make the podium for the first time in a decade with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric given the trophy.
“No,” said Barca captain Messi to Movistar when asked if he had extra motivation for the game because of the awards snub. — become provider a minute before the break, slipping in a super through ball that Suarez somehow took on and squeezed home from near the byline. Messi capped a dominant team and individual display with his second free-kick of the night, which this time whipped past Lopez which such venom the Spanish goalkeeper could barely move towards it. —
‘BALLon D’or SnuB wAS no ExtrA MotivAtion’