The king of Football Lionel Messi has finall surpassed 40 goals by giving Fc Barcelona three point ahead in a season after scoring double two goals for Barcelona a 2-0 derby victory over Espanyol and now Barcelona has moved to 13 points and now they are at the top of La Liga table.
He Barcelona forwarder scored two direct free kicks against Espanyol in the 71st minute of the match when the sides met earlier this season, and that was the source of this afternoon’s opener when it finally came.
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| Messi first goal against Espanyol |
Messi, who had been an injury doubt for the game, then turned in a cross from substitute Malcom to seal victory after 89 minutes.
The Barca talisman had the first chance in the ninth minute but his shot deflected over the crossbar for a corner. Ivan Rakitic was not too far away with a fierce drive from the edge of the box after 21 minutes and Luis Suarez, who had scored eight goals in nine games against Espanyol going into this clash, sent another effort just wide shortly afterwards.
🔝👏 Leo #Messi reaches 40 goals for the 10th season in a row! 🐑— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 30, 2019
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| Messi second goal with free kick against Espanyol |
Messi, who had missed Argentina's friendly clash against Morocco this week with a groin injury, was showing no ill-effects as his curling free-kick from the right was pushed over by Diego Lopez.
Barca started the second half with some urgency, and Jordi Alba sliced a shot wide at the far post from Nelson Semedo's deep cross.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was called into action for the first time in the 55th minute as he gathered Oscar Melendo's shot on the turn from Borja Iglesias' cross.
Messi thought he had opened the scoring less than a minute later but Alba was in an offside position.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde made a double change just before the hour, bringing Malcom on for Arthur and Sergi Roberto for Semedo as he tried to lift a flat atmosphere at the Nou Camp.
Brazilian winger Malcom was straight into the action, forcing Lopez into a save with a shot to the far corner.
Philippe Coutinho curled a shot inches over the bar after 68 minutes, but the home side did not have much longer to wait for the opener.
Messi's free-kick was helped over the line by the head of Sanchez, who was substituted seven minutes later.
Bringing on Malcom was a tactical masterclass from Valverde as the substitute set up Messi for his second in the 88th minute. A sweeping move from the hosts and a brilliant through-ball from Rakitic got the Brazilian in behind the Espanyol defence down the left-hand flank and he squared the ball for Messi, who finished low and hard first-time in to the bottom left-hand corner to wrap up the three points.
Source: soccerladuma
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