Messi hits brace in landmark game
SAN SEBASTIAN: Lionel Messi celebrated becoming Barcelona’s highest capped of all time by scoring twice as his rampant side crushed Real Sociedad 6-1 away in La Liga on Sunday.
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the 36th minute and Sergino Dest stretched Barca’s lead shortly before halftime after latching on to a pass from Messi. Dest struck again in the second half before Messi controlled a sumptuous pass from Sergio Busquets and scored to mark a night on which he overtook Xavi Hernandez as Barca’s record appearance maker, with 768 games for the club. Ousmane Dembele struck his side’s fifth goal in the 71st minute after a brilliant solo run while Sociedad’s Ander Barrenetxea hit arguably the best goal of the game to give his side a rare moment of joy.
Messi, however, had the final say, finishing off a flowing move in the 89th minute to score his 23rd league goal of the season. The victory took Barca above Real Madrid into second place, four behind leaders Atletico with 10 games left.
Xabi Alonso as manager?
MÖNCHENGLADBACH: German media reports say former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso will take over as coach at Borussia Mönchengladbach next season.
The tabloid Bild and its sister magazine Sport Bild first reported that the 39-year-old Alonso, who had a distinguished playing career with Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, has agreed to replace current Gladbach coach Marco Rose, who is joining Borussia Dortmund next season.
Spurs divided by ‘selfish’ players, says Mourinho
LONDON: Jose Mourinho said Tottenham’s dressing room is divided by “selfish” players and agents who have their own relationships with the press.
Mourinho was speaking after a vital win in the chase for a topfour Premier League finish. Spurs responded to an embarrassing Europa League exit at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday, courtesy of goals from Carlos Vinicius and Harry Kane.
Captain Hugo Lloris had strongly criticised the underlying culture at the club in a stinging interview following Thursday’s loss in Croatia, pointing the finger at fringe players who were not fully committed.
Mourinho appeared to agree with that assessment, saying it was difficult to keep a harmonious dressing room in the modern game. In the FA Cup, Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as they beat Man United 3-1 in their quarter-final to set up a last-four clash against Southampton. The other semifinal will pit Man City against Chelsea, who beat Sheffield United 2-0.
Indian match officials for Japan-Korea friendly
NEW DELHI: Four FIFA/Elite AFC referees and assistant referees from India will officiate an international friendly between Japan and South Korea in Kanagawa on Thursday, AIFF said in a press release. The four match officials are referee Rowan Arumughan, assistant referees Joseph Louis Tony and Sumanta Dutta and fourth official Coimbatore Ramasamy Srikrishna.