BARCELONA • Trust Lionel Messi to pull another wonder strike out of his party bag of tricks.
The "panenka" is one of the most impudent techniques in football, and the Barcelona forward took it to another level on Saturday by applying it to a free kick against Espanyol.
Social media went wild after his dinked opener put his side on course for a 2-0 win at the Nou Camp - he also scored their second - keeping the Spanish champions 10 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
It was a fitting way for Messi 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.
Afterwards, his manager Ernesto Valverde admitted that he "had no idea he would hit (the free kick) like that".
The Spaniard said: "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."
Although Messi made a low-key return for Argentina after ending his exile from the national team during the international break, playing his first game since the World Cup last June, Valverde was delighted there was no hangover.
He added: "Messi is the same player no matter what team he is playing in. 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."
The Barcelona talisman has now notched 41 goals in all competitions this season - the 10th straight year he has recorded over 40 strikes.
The 31-year-old, whose side are unbeaten in 17 league games, also joined former Real Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas for the most number of victories in LaLiga (334).
Atletico, who will visit Valverde's men in the league on Saturday, kept alive their faint hopes of winning the title after a 4-0 away thrashing of Alaves.
Saul Niguez, Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata and Thomas Partey all got on the scoresheet and, post-game, Saul promised he would "fight to win the league for the fans".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Pochettino's side looked like they would hold on for a point as the match entered stoppage-time, but Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake ended third-placed Tottenham's stubborn resistence to delay their attempt to guarantee a place in the top four.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs | Football News and
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish was punched by a pitch-invading Birmingham fan in a shocking incident during Sunday's Championship clash, but the midfielder had the last laugh as he scored the
Villa's Grealish has last laugh after Birmingham fan attack
May 02, 2019 · The series shifts to Portland for Game 3 Friday night, and Lillard's hoping a return to the Moda Center will help him find his long-range rhythm after he misfired on 14 of 19 3-pointers in Denver.
CJ McCollum scores 37 points as Portland Trail Blazers beat
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash. Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group A - England v Czech Republic
Football: Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash
The £3.5million Spurs paid Burnley for Kieran Trippier back in 2015 has proved to be an absolute steal. While the 28-year-old had to initially bide his time on the sidelines following his move to White Hart Lane, Trippier is now first choice for club and country.
Premier League: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa Arrizabalaga shines Description: Eden Hazard was the catalyst with an incisive run into the Fulham area, the Belgian laying the ball back to the Jorginho, who guided a superb strike into the top corner from 18 yards.
Premier League: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa
Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been given a one-match ban by the Football Association for improper conduct after sarcastically applauding referee Andre Marriner. Zaha was punished following
Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap - Breitbart
England's greatest goalkeeper and 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81 after losing his battle with kidney cancer.
Football: England bids farewell to World Cup-winning 'keeper
Germany's teenage midfielder Giulia Gwinn scored a second-half winner as the two-time world champions edged past China 1-0 on Saturday in Rennes to kick-off their World Cup campaign. The 19-year
Giulia Gwinn scores Germany winner on Women's World Cup debut
Football: Guardiola coy over quadruple bid after City reach
Chelsea have identified a possible replacement for Maurizio Sarri should the Italian leave the Blues and become Juventus' new manager. Sarri replacement who could help tie star down to a new
The reason Maurizio Sarri does not want to start Callum
Sheridan: Kyrie Irving on His Future: "Ask Me July 1" by Chris Sheridan @sheridanhoops NEW YORK — On the morning after the largest city in the NBA was turned upside down by the mind-boggling trade of Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, the fallout was being felt most acutely by Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics inside Madison
Irving july 4 - YouTube
Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Round of 16 - Iran v Oman - Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - January 20, 2019 Iran's Mehdi Taremi in action with Oman's Khalid Al-Braiki
AFC Asian Cup 2019 roundup: Iran ease past Oman into last
Valencia clinch Champions League qualification on final day Getafe in next season's Europa League, and Espanyol's 2-0 final day victory over Real Sociedad saw them climb two places to
Valencia clinch UCL spot at Getafe's expense - espn.com
This program is read by Richard Armitage. With a final twist that will shock even his most ardent listeners, Heads You Win is #1 New York Times bestseller Jeffrey Archer's most ambitious and creative work since Kane and Abel. Leningrad, Russia, 1968. Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and
Everton 1-0 Man Utd - Fellaini Heads Toffees To Surprise Win
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar