MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi continued his remarkable run of form with a second-half double as Barcelona continued their march towards the La Liga title on Saturday (March 30) with a 2-0 win over Espanyol.
The visitors gave their city rivals a tough game at the Camp Nou, but Messi's chipped free-kick with 19 minutes to play and a late second sent the reigning champions 13 points clear at the top ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid's game at Alaves later on Saturday.
Messi has now netted eight times in his last four games for Barca, and leads the way in the La Liga scoring charts with 31 goals, 13 ahead of teammate Luis Suarez.
"I had no idea he would hit (the free-kick) like that," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
"I would love to say that we had planned it, but it's not true, it's up to him. He didn't need my opinion and he scored."
It was a fitting way for the Argentinian to mark his 675th Barcelona appearance, which moved him ahead of Andres Iniesta into second on the club's all-time list - 102 adrift of Xavi Hernandez.
He made a low-key return to international action in midweek as Argentina lost a friendly to Venezuela, but Valverde was delighted it did not affect Messi on Saturday.
"Messi is the same player no matter what team he is playing in," he said.
"He would be the same if he played in Australia... We are delighted to have him, it's a luxury for me to coach him."
BARCA FRUSTRATED
Barca struggled to break down Espanyol early on, with Messi, Suarez and Ivan Rakitic all wasting half-chances in the first period.
Barcelona saw a penalty appeal waved away by both the referee and VAR on the stroke of half-time, and Malcom was denied just after the hour mark by away goalkeeper Diego Lopez as the Catalan giants grew frustrated.
But Messi has been consistently unplayable this season, and he dinked in a wonderful effort from a set-piece despite Victor Sanchez's best efforts to clear off the line.
The three points were sealed in the 89th minute as Malcom ran clear on the breakaway, before cutting the ball across for Messi to sweep a trademark finish low into the bottom corner.
Barcelona next visit Villarreal on Tuesday with a second successive title looking even more like a mere formality after a sixth straight victory extended their unbeaten league run to 17 matches.
Earlier on Saturday, fourth-placed Getafe missed the chance to solidify their spot in the Champions League places as they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat by Leganes.
Uruguayan Michael Santos and Spaniard Juanfran scored in the second half for Leganes to give Alaves the chance to move into the top four with a win over Atletico.
England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as Ross Barkley scored twice in a clinical 5-1 victory to continue their strong start to the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign on Monday.
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare | Free
Bayern Munich could battle Chelsea and Atletico Madrid for the signing of OGC Nice star Youcef Atal. The 22-year-old has been in exceptional form for his side in Ligue 1 this season, and according to a report from The Telegraph, Niko Kovac's men could be keen to make a move this summer.
Teen Mom 2: Chelsea Gets Aubree 2 Pairs of Glasses
Juventus have announced that head coach Massimiliano Allegri will leave the club at the end of the 2018-19 season. The Italian boss' future has been in question since being dumped out of the
Juventus announce Allegri to leave this summer - global.espn.com
global.espn.com/football/juventus/story/3855818/juventus-announce-allegri-to-leave-this-summer
Juventus have announced Massimiliano Allegri will leave his post as manager at the end of the season. Allegri and the Juve board have had several meetings in the past few days over the former AC Milan boss' future, and they decided he will step down after their final match of the season away to Sampdoria on May 26.
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Cardiff have expressed their shock after it was reported the pilot in the plane crash that killed Emiliano Sala was not qualified to fly at night. The club said they remained "deeply concerned
SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) new technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to translate Singapore's "culture of excellence" to football and wants to do it by building
New FAS technical director aims to awake 'sleeping giant'
Saudi Arabia Look for Return to Asian Power Status The days when they were one of the major powers in the region are a fading memory now, though, and in the last two versions of the Asian Cup they have failed to progress from their group.
2022 FIFA World Cup - Wikipedia
Sterling gets Van Dijk's vote for PFA player of the year. Van Dijk is one of the favourites for the award after helping Liverpool deliver a sustained Premier League title challenge, while
Sterling gets Van Dijk's vote for PFA player of the year | IOL
Welcome to the Official Man City FC website. Get all the latest news now, injury updates, TV match information, player info, match stats and highlights, plus tickets, shirts and much more.
Ben Chilwell opens up on Pep Guardiola chat as Man City boss
MADRID (AFP) - Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Spain star Jose Antonio Reyes has been killed in a car crash, his hometown club Sevilla said on Saturday (June 1). He was 35.. Read more at
Football: Grief in Sevilla as former star Jose Antonio Reyes
Guardiola sorry to have derailed Pellegrini's final days at City AFP Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists he has faith in VAR after a controversial night in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola sorry for derailing Manuel Pellegrini's
Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 but are pipped to the title by Manchester City by just one point By Gerard Brand at Anfield Last Updated: 12/05/19 6:01pm 2:18 Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp says that this season is the first step for his squad in their journey after they finished second in the Premier League Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp says that this season is the first step for his squad in their journey
Jurgen Klopp: This is just the first step for Liverpool
sportsloveme.com/soccer/jurgen-klopp-this-is-just-the-first-step-for-liverpool/
Jurgen Klopp: This is just the first step for Liverpool 05/12/2019 Football' , Premier , Sky , Sports Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool's record-breaking season is just the "first step" for his team after they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City.
Klopp: Premier League near-miss is only Liverpool's 'first step'
BARCELONA, Kingdom of Spain — Still, they gasp.Still, in the endthis point, in the end he has done, long oncehis brilliance ought tobecame commonplace, once our expectations ought toare adjusted and our capability for surprise dulled, Lionel Messi will still draw the breath and dazzle the eyes and convey a crowd of nearly one hundred,000 to its feet.
A Genius in Full Bloom, Lionel Messi Lifts Barcelona - Best
bestwnews.com/sport/a-genius-in-full-bloom-lionel-messi-lifts-barcelona/
Even when everything is in flux — when a bright, young Ajax team can go to Turin and beat wily old Juventus, when Cristiano Ronaldo can miss out on the Champions League semifinals, when guards seem to be changing and eras ending — a 3-0 second-leg quarterfinal victory over Manchester United featured soccer's one great, enduring constant: Messi beaming, Barcelona winning, opponents left
Messi the one constant in a much-changed Argentina squad for
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