Lionel Messi smashed through the 300-goal mark with a brace as Barcelona crushed Rayo Vallecano 5-0 in Madrid to go three points clear at the top of La Liga. David Villa, Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas got the other goals yesterday to put the pressure back onto second-placed Atletico Madrid who entertain Osasuna on Sunday. Messi's goals were the 300th and 301st of his career, a total made up of 270 for Barca and 31 for Argentina in only 419 matches. They also took him to 13 in the league this season and 73 in all competitions in 2012. That's just two behind Pele's 75 for Santos and Brazil in 1959, and only 12 shy of Gerd Mueller's all-time best calendar year record of 85 goals for Bayern Munich and West Germany in 1972. Rayo started brightly and had claims for a penalty turned down on eight minutes when Fabregas appeared to hold back Leo Baptistao. Rayo were pressuring the Catalans and it took until the 19th minute for Barca to have their first shot when Messi drove wide. However, a minute later, Barcelona were ahead. The chance came from nothing when Fabregas picked up a loose ball and played in Villa with a probing pass that the Spanish national team's all-time top scorer finished first time with his right foot. Fabregas was the supplier again for Villa seven minutes later, but this time his shot was saved by Ruben Martinez in the Rayo goal. Two minutes later, Ruben advanced quickly to block a Fabregas effort after Messi had found the ex-Arsenal man in space. Messi went close with a curled free-kick and as a hard fought first-half drew to a close Andrija Delibasic forced Victor Valdes into a save at the other end. Within two minutes of the restart, Messi had doubled the lead. Pedro Rodriguez found Martin Montoya in an advanced wide position and the right-back pulled the ball back for the little Argentine who steered it first time into the top right corner of the net. Javi Fuego then hit a rasping left footed drive that Valdes pushed wide and Jordi Amat tried his luck from distance as the home side looked for a quick way back into the match. Valdes was earning his wages as he next got down well to stop another drive from Fuego. Barcelona were quick to sense the danger and began to close down the game with a more measured approach that restricted Rayo's attacking forays. Xavi and Fabregas then added two more in two minutes with 10 minutes remaining. With two minutes left, Messi raced onto a Fabregas pass to get his second and his side's fifth. Earlier in-form Malaga were held to a 0-0 draw at struggling Espanyol. The Andalusian side rested Joaquin Sanchez and Javier Saviola after wins over Valladolid and AC Milan in the last seven days, but in a game of very few chances they could not find a way past Espanyol who moved off the bottom of the table. The point means Malaga will remain in third position as Real Madrid, who play Mallorca on Sunday, are four points behind on 14 points. Betis move into fourth on 16 points after a 1-0 home win over Valencia thanks to an early Salva Sevilla goal. Despite a string of chances for Spain striker Roberto Soldado, the away side left empty handed and have only one point to show from five away trips this season. Deportivo La Coruna earned a much needed point with a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo in the Galician derby to bring to an end a run of four defeats. Juan Dominguez equalised for Deportivo after Mario Bermejo had opened the scoring, both in the first period. Celta defender Gustavo Cabral was red-carded just after the interval. Source: Indian Express
Lionel Messi breaks 300-goal barrier as Barcelona hit five
Lionel Messi needs World Cup win to join greats, says Ossie
Messi has claimed 21 club prizes with Barca and the next month's World Cup will be his third for Argentina after 2006 and 2010. (Reuters)
Lionel Messi would trade all his Barcelona success for a World Cup winners’ medal with Argentina to sit alongside the game’s greats, according to compatriot Ossie Ardiles. “That is how important the World Cup is for him,” said Ardiles, who was in the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup at home in Buenos Aires. Ardiles, speaking to delegates at the Soccerex Asian Forum held by the banks of the Dead Sea, said that while Messi might be regarded by some as the best player the world has seen, a World Cup win is vital for his legacy. Messi, 26, has claimed 21 club prizes with Barca and has also won the World Youth Cup in 2005 and 2008 Olympics with Argentina. Next month’s World Cup will be his third after being used sparingly as a substitute in 2006 and playing in 2010. “Right now Messi might be regarded as the greatest player in the whole history of the game but he would give all the medals he has won with Barcelona just to win one World Cup, that is how important it is for him,” said former midfielder Ardiles. “To be considered alongside the top, top guys like Pele and Diego Maradona and so on, he not only needs to be in the World Cup but to win it.” Home Advantage: Ardiles also said that he regarded Argentina as favourites to win the tournament in neighbouring Brazil, but joked he could not say anything else if he wanted to remain popular back home. On a more serious note he said that while Brazil clearly had a very good chance, home advantage was a lot less important than it once was. “It is a fact that no European teams have won the World Cup in South America but after saying that it doesn’t mean it is going to stay like that forever. “Three or four teams from Europe have a big chance in Brazil, but though Brazil are playing at home, being at home is not a big advantage anymore. Players play all over, things have changed. It is a lot less than it used to be. “At the beginning of the tournament it can be an advantage but if things don’t go well for a young team like Brazil’s it can be like a boomerang effect. The pressure grows and grows and comes back and can hit you hard. There is so much pressure, it is tremendous.”Pure joy: Ardiles played at the 1978 and 1982 World Cups and gave a fascinating insight into how he felt about the experience. “I did not enjoy playing in the World Cup. You are always worried about how you are going Source: The Indian Express, Image: flickr.com
Messi breaks world record as Barca beat Deportivo
Messi 'breaks record' by scoring in 17th consecutive La Liga game
Lionel Messi scored in his 17th successive La Liga game, breaking a world record which has stood since the 1930s, according to his club Barcelona. The 25-year-old came off the bench to register his 40th league goal of the season for Barca in the 88th minute of their 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna. The world player of the year chipped in for his 27th goal in 17 matches. Barca said Messi had beaten Pole Teodor Pewterek's 1937-38 record of scoring in 16 straight games for Ruch Chorzow. Magical Messi Messi's 40 goals in La Liga means he has scored more league goals than 16 of the 20 teams in the division "The Argentine player's tally represents a new record in the history of football, something no other player has achieved before," the Spanish club said on their website. There was no immediate confirmation of Barcelona's claim by world governing body Fifa. Messi has now scored 52 goals in all competitions this season, including five in the Champions League. In December, Messi broke another record - that of the most goals in a calendar year - when he surpassed Gerd Mueller's 1972 tally of 85. With Barca seeking to overturn a first-leg deficit when they face AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, the Catalan giants started their match against Deportivo with several of their biggest stars, including Messi, on the bench. Barcelona never needed to be at their fluid best to see off Deportivo. Alexis Sanchez gave them the lead just before half-time before Messi, who came on in the 59th minute, sealed victory two minutes from time. Speaking about overturning the 2-0 first-leg deficit, Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura said: "Tuesday will be an entirely different story. "But there is no doubt that the best way to get ready for a match is having won the previous game." Barcelona's 12th win in 13 home league games extended their lead to 14 points over Atletico Madrid, who meet Real Sociedad on Sunday. "We have the league title in our hands and we are not going to let it slip away," Alexis said. Source: Liocris
