Messi Nets Four In Barca Victory
20 February 2012
Lionel Messi netted four times as Barcelona reduced Real Madrid's lead to ten points at the top of the La Liga table with a 5-1 victory over Valencia at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
The home side were stunned to find themselves a goal down within ten minutes as Pablo Piatti chipped Sofiane Feghouli's ball over Victor Valdes after a mix-up in the Barcelona defence.
Barca, were however soon celebrating after when two goals in six minutes from Messi gave them the lead. Some lacklustre defence from Valencia resulted in the Argentine picking up the ball inside the box and being allowed to sneak the ball under Diego Alves.
The second goal came after some great one-touch football from the home side where the ball went through multiple passes before Messi found space in close range where he could chip it over Alves.
Valencia could have found themselves down by five or six goals before the break, but Alves produced some fine saves to deny Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez, while the woodwork also denied the former Arsenal captain.
Barcelona enjoyed a lively start to the second half and came close again through early chances from Sanchez and Fabregas, but again Alves proved heroic between the sticks.
On the hour, the Los Che goalkeeper was again in the action, this time it was a reaction stop from a Messi header which he palmed onto the crossbar before it fell to safety.
It was just wave after wave of attack from Pep Guadiola's men and eventually the third came with 15 minutes to go when Alves palmed another save into Messi's path. This time the striker wasn't to be denied as he completed his sixth hat-trick of the season.
It was four for Barcelona with six minutes remaining as Messi found himself one-on-one with Alves and calmly chipped it over the goalkeeper. Messi then turned provider for Barcelona's fifth a minute into stoppage time when his pass found midfielder Xavi who slotted it home.
Barcelona: Valdés; Montoya, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal; Sergio Busquets, Fàbregas, Iniesta; Alexis, Messi, Pedro
Valencia: Diego Alves; Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Mathieu; Albelda, Tino Costa; Feghouli, Jonas, Piatti; Soldado
comments
Messi untouchable
Submitted by: Leesta
Date: 23 February 2012, Time: 16:54:52
The boy is unique,jealous down people,
Submitted by: phineasmoeti
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 14:24:37
The loss to Osasuna prove beyond any reasonable doubt hw useless (or maybe just another player on the park) he can be without Xavi and Iniesta next to him. Just imagine if he can change a team altogether, he will quit!!
Submitted by: Geees
Date: 21 February 2012, Time: 17:55:49
i will no longer compare you with CR7... yo, last night u showed that u r an allien. i THink God just created you to play soccer, i wish cristiano realise that and stop chasibng the bollon d,
Submitted by: mongwadi
Date: 21 February 2012, Time: 13:08:30
U cn crtsize hm al u wnt bt wat dis boy does on da pich is nt a joke, n hiz bn doin it since he was a teen. In 2005 he led argentina 2 win under 20 wrld cup. In 2006 he won ucl with barca thou h ddnt play due 2 injury. In 2007 he scored da best goal ive cn against mexico. I 2008 he was injured 4 da beta part of da season. In 2009,2010 n 2011 we all knw wat he did whch he is stil doing 2 dis day. He is a futbal god.
Submitted by: vha.ndi
Date: 21 February 2012, Time: 01:21:11
@lalo u tok ur mynd n wch is wrng. messi scored four goals wtout iniesta n xavi z assist. wat dd ronaldo achieve wt portugal? nt evn in junior levels he dd achieve. messi won wrld cups wt argentina in junior levels wch z sumthn
Submitted by: The Priest
Date: 20 February 2012, Time: 21:21:28
@de mbambos browski i truly lv nd blv wat u sayd...excpt 4 messi bing d gr8s playa eva,he is d gr8s playa of our generati0n bt nt eva...
Submitted by: blaqbear
Date: 20 February 2012, Time: 20:25:27
@de mbambos browski i truly lv nd blv wat u sayd...excpt 4 messi bing d gr8s playa eva,he is d gr8s playa of our generati0n bt nt eva
Submitted by: blaqbear
Date: 20 February 2012, Time: 20:24:22
What is christiano achieve @ portugal national team from juniour level,
Submitted by: shetdy
Date: 20 February 2012, Time: 19:29:19
yes bro u talk like a bucs fan who knows what the meaning of this game like me i watch Pele playing bt i watched maradona zange bafana tu,,Pele was the great by goals like Ronaldo,Maradona was the very best as Messi 2 day,De Mbambo's
Submitted by: Thambai
Date: 20 February 2012, Time: 18:49:48