Messi scores two as Barca extend unbeaten record
MADRID: A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Eibar on Sunday top open up an 11-point lead at the top.
Munir El Haddadi tapped home the opener from Luis Suarez’s cross before Messi doubled Barca’s advantage with a brilliant individual effort just before half-time. Messi doubled his tally from the penalty spot before Suarez lashed home the fourth six minutes from time.
Barca’s 11th consecutive league win also stretches their record unbeaten run to 36 games.
Atletico Madrid can close the gap at the top to eight points when they visit Gary Neville’s Valencia later on Sunday.
Real Madrid remain 12 points adrift of Barca in third despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s four-goal show in a 7-1 demolition of Celta Vigo on Saturday. The European champions were without the suspended Neymar, who made the most of his free weekend to return to his native Brazil.
However, El Haddadi made the most of his rare chance to start with a simple finish at the back post eight minutes in after Messi’s brilliant pass had played in Suarez behind the Eibar defence.
Eibar then enjoyed a concerted period of pressure and were desperately unlucky not to level when Borja Baston’s cross hit Sergio Busquets and flew inches past the far post.
Yet, just when Eibar looked the most likely to score, Messi killed the game as he intercepted the ball in midfield and drove towards the Eibar goal before firing into the far corner for his 20th league goal of the season.
The second-half was Messi put Barca’s recent troubles from the penalty spot and coolly dispatched the penalty for his 35th goal of the season. And Suarez finally got the goal he craved to move back to within one of Cristiano Ronaldo in the scoring charts.