barca closes gap with real
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Messi breaks record

Barca closes gap with Real

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Barca closes gap with Real

Lionel Messi
Madrid - Arabstoday

Lionel Messi Madrid - Arabstoday Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to break the record for most goals scored in a European season as Barcelona kept alive their slim title hopes with a convincing win over Malaga. Carles Puyol fired Pep Guardiola's side in front at the Nou Camp, only for that lead to be cancelled out by Jose Salomon Rondon. But Messi scored twice from the penalty spot before wrapping up his treble with a low drive to take his tally to 68 goals for the campaign, passing the previous mark of 67 set by Gerd Muller in 1972/73. The win sees the Catalan club close the gap on Real Madrid to four points, although if their rivals beat Athletic Bilbao later this evening the title will head to the Spanish capital. It was an emotional night at the Nou Camp as Barcelona played their first home game since Guardiola confirmed his intention to step down at the end of the season. Guardiola, who has won 13 trophies in four years in charge, has decided not to renew his contract when it expires on 30 June. He will be succeeded by his assistant Tito Vilanova. His side caught a glimpse of goal in the opening minute when Dani Alves saw a shot from distance saved by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. However, the hosts were given a scare after ten minutes when a free-kick from Sergio Duda beat goalkeeper Jose Pinto but came back off the post. Barça's response was to score the opening goal three minutes later. Andres Iniesta whipped in a cross which was hammered home by defender Puyol. Kameni came to the rescue after 19 minutes to palm away a shot from Adriano, and Malaga were level in the 28th minute when Rondon directed a diving header into the net from Jesus Gamez's cross. The parity did not last long though, with Gamez pulling down Iniesta in the box eight minutes later. Messi stepped up to take the spot-kick, placing his shot into the bottom left corner. Cesc Fabregas then put a header over the bar from Messi's inswinging corner two minutes before the interval as Barcelona looked to take a stranglehold on the match. They managed to do just that after 58 minutes when Malaga gave away another penalty, this time for Duda's challenge on Messi. The Argentinian picked himself up and once again beat Kameni from the spot to move on to 67 goals for the season and level with Muller's record. And a new milestone was set five minutes later with Iniesta again the provider with a pass which was swept home left-footed by Messi. Malaga tried to salvage some pride from the match, but Francisco Portillo curled his 20-yard shot wide after 78 minutes, while Ruud van Nistelrooy saw his volley saved by Pinto in the final minute.  

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

barca closes gap with real barca closes gap with real

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

barca closes gap with real barca closes gap with real

 



GMT 05:03 2017 Saturday ,21 October

EMPC denies transfer to new administrative capital

GMT 10:50 2014 Friday ,07 November

UAE Fables and Folklore

GMT 12:10 2017 Tuesday ,07 March

Poachers kill rare giant elephant in Kenya

GMT 00:31 2016 Thursday ,08 December

Kuwaiti-European group considers investing $1bn

GMT 12:31 2017 Thursday ,06 April

At 73, Barry Manilow comes out of closet

GMT 18:34 2017 Friday ,10 February

Malabar Gold to open 11th Saudi showroom in Jubail

GMT 16:18 2017 Monday ,02 October

Saudi university to open driving school for women

GMT 16:20 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

French parliament adopts tough anti-terror bill

GMT 02:18 2017 Tuesday ,03 October

Egypt's Sisi says spoke to Donald Trump by telephone
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday