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.
Top 10 Arizona high school running backs of all time I feel, shaped the landscape in Arizona. One of the greatest football families all-time in Arizona. Art and Benny both starred at
Gil Brandt's 25 greatest NFL running backs of all time
Latest Raffaele Maiello #8 news, stats, photos and videos on MSN Sport
Milan draw another blank in Frosinone stalemate - Football
Santiago Solari believes the way Ajax played against Real Madrid, the Dutch side could cause problems in the second leg at the Bernabeu. Coaches can't make the calls on VAR - Solari
'We trust VAR' - Solari keeping faith in officials after
Kepa Arrizabalaga: Chelsea squad 'respect' Maurizio Sarri's authority despite goalkeeper row says David Luiz. Sarri's position is precarious after a run of poor results, but the 60-year-old
Will Abramovich really want to keep a hold of Sarri after
Manchester City 3-1 Everton: Gabriel Jesus scores double and Raheem Sterling strikes late as hosts move back to the top of Premier League with win. Manchester City moved above Liverpool and back
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 16, 2019, with the headline 'Merlion Cup to return after nine-year hiatus'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
2019 Merlion Cup - Wikipedia
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
en.banglatribune.com/sports/news/31201/Sigurdsson-double-helps-Everton-sink-Cardiff
CARDIFF CITY 0 EVERTON 3. Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. Sigurdsson is now the leading Icelandic goalscorer in the Premier League, moving two clear of the 55 scored by former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Cardiff City vs. Everton - Football Match Report - February
Football: Liverpool back on top with 3-2 Newcastle win but
SINGAPORE: The Football Association of luxury138's (FAS) new technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to translate luxury138's "culture of excellence" to football and wants to do it by building on the blueprint set by his predecessor Michel Sablon.
Australia News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Teamsheet - soccer
Watford's Gray strikes late to spoil Rodgers' Leicester debut Watford's Andre Gray scored a stoppage-time winner as Leicester City began life under new boss Brendan Rodgers in
Leicester city News: Leicester city Latest News and Headlines
Klopp confirms Firmino fitness for Champions League final getty, Julian Finney Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is fit for Saturday's Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur despite missing the end of the Premier League season, manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Friday.
Klopp confirms Firmino fitness for Champions League final
"We are all tired after an amazing, crazy and unbelievable night," Pochettino told a news conference Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino Home
Tottenham beat Man City in Champions League: 'We are still in
Spurs TV fixtures: Where you can watch the clashes against Manchester City and West Ham. Tottenham will be on television a few times before the end of the season
Tottenham confirm Man City clash at Wembley - africa.espn.com
Football: Spanish LaLiga unaware of English Premier League
Football: Valencia stroll into Europa League last four with 2
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen