EIBAR, SPAIN (REUTERS) - Barcelona captain and La Liga top scorer Lionel Messi rounded off a spectacular season by netting twice in a 2-2 draw away to Eibar in the champions’ final game on Sunday (May 19), taking his tally to a remarkable 36 league goals.
Eibar went ahead in the 20th minute with a strike from Barca’s on-loan midfielder Marc Cucurella which squirmed under keeper Jasper Cillessen but Messi levelled in the 31st after sneaking into the box to meet a pass from Arturo Vidal.
Messi struck again a minute later, racing through the middle unchallenged to latch on to a pass from Ivan Rakitic and calmly chip the outstretched keeper Marko Dmitrovic.
But Eibar’s Pablo de Blasis levelled right before halftime with a superb one-touch strike from long range after the ball fell into his path following a desperate header away from Cillessen, who looked in shaky form ahead of next week’s Copa del Rey final against Valencia.
“When you have nothing at stake you are always less keen in a game, in the end we drew but I think we have ended the season well,†said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.
“We have been champions for a while now, we were very consistent throughout the campaign. We had a few difficulties early in the season, but we overcame them.†Malcom and Gerard Pique missed second-half chances for the champions while Cucurella spurned an even better opportunity to snatch a winner for Eibar, who have still never managed to beat Barca in the top flight.
Messi had a difficult chance to score again and complete a hat-trick but sent his shot well over the bar.
The Argentine still finished the campaign as La Liga’s top scorer for a third year in a row, the first player to do so since Hugo Sanchez of Real Madrid in 1987.
He also joined the late former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra as the only players in the league’s history to be top scorer six times.
Messi scored 15 goals more than his nearest challengers, Barca team mate Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema who both netted 21 times.
Barca, who clinched an eighth title in 11 seasons with three games to spare, finished the campaign on 87 points, 11 clear of runners-up Atletico Madrid and 19 ahead of Real Madrid in third.
Their focus now turns to beating Valencia in next week’s Cup final in Seville to complete a second consecutive domestic double.
Their season, however, is still likely to be overshadowed by their Champions League semi-final elimination to Liverpool.
We lack rub of the green: Simeone. Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa arguing with referee Jesus Gil Manzano after he had been adjudged to have fouled Barcelona midfielder Arthur during the top
We lack rub of the green: Simeone - theworldnews.net
Women's Team Sues Over 'Institutionalized' Discrimination Players for the US women's national soccer team have filed a federal gender much of the pay disparity between the men's and women
Team USA women's soccer players fight for equal pay - 60
Rival fans in Singapore believe title race still wide open. Apr 23, 2019, 5:00 am. premium. Football: Man City fans wary of United and suspect defence, Liverpool supporters fear fatigue and
Frijns: "Formula E Title Still Wide Open" Despite
Synonyms for High stakes gambler in Free Thesaurus. Antonyms for High stakes gambler. 1 synonym for high roller: big spender. What are synonyms for High stakes gambler?
Gambling stakes -- Crossword clue | Crossword Nexus
Filing a Chapter 13, or "wage earner" petition, gives you a bit more flexibility than a Chapter 7 asset liquidation action. Since you are willing to repay your debts on a reduced basis in Chapter 13 versus asking the court to wipe them all away, as you would in Chapter 7, you enjoy a bit more bank-account freedom.
6 Reasons to Keep Your Money in the Bank | My Money | US News
FOOTBALL NEWS. News home page Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1. Daniele Rugani put Juventus 2-0 ahead in the 62nd minute after a series of
Juventus foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1, Sports
Moussa Sissoko unaware Spurs advanced to UEFA Champions League semis after Raheem Sterling goal disallowed Description: Moussa Sissoko, who was replaced in the first half after he picked up an injury, was so distraught after Raheem Sterling scored that he immediately walked down the tunnel to the dressing room.
Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced - gulfnews.com
Nazri, 48, who was recently appointed assistant to new national coach Tatsuma Yoshida, said: "They responded to me very well and I always try to win the players' trust, that's the most important thing and it showed during the AirMarine Cup. "I hope they can continue the momentum and that's where I come in also to motivate the players.
HK racer legend in making - theworldnews.net
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined £45,000 ($59,000) by the Football Association on Thursday for suggesting referee Kevin Friend had favoured West Ham in his side's 1-1 draw at the London
Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp fined £45,000 over West Ham
Look At These Goals from Lionel Messi in 2019 Season Too Much, Just Too Much ¡ ||HD|| - Duration: 9:01. Messi Magic™ 1,479,672 views
Barcelona 1 Levante 0: Messi goal secures LaLiga title as
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk. The Dutch beat the Germans 3-0 at home last October and came from behind with two late goals to force a 2-2 draw away in Gelsenkirchen
Van Dijk: Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany | IOL
LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has condemned 'disgusting' racist abuse aimed at Mohamed Salah and called for lifetime bans for the Chelsea fans accused of taunting the Liverpool star. A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea's Europa League match at Slavia Prague this week showed a group of six supporters chanting "Salah is a bomber
Liverpool coach Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Salah abuse ahead
0 comments:
Post a Comment