BARCELONA ESCAPED A scare on Philippe Coutinho’s first start as Lionel Messi struck with a trademark free-kick to drag the La Liga leaders back from a goal down to beat Alaves 2-1 and restore their 11-point lead at the top.
Messi whipped home a beautiful free-kick six minutes from the end to down resilient Alaves, who are just two points from the drop zone in 17th despite John Guidetti silencing the Camp Nou with a shock breakaway opener in the 23rd minute.
Luis Suarez had broken the away side’s tough resistence with a sweet volley from Andres Iniesta’s cross 18 minutes from the end, setting the stage for Messi’s dramatic and stylish winner.
The Argentine’s strike ensures that Barca stay unbeaten in the league, and keeps Atletico Madrid 11 points back despite their 3-0 hammering of Las Palmas earlier.
With Diego Costa out injured, Atletico took a while to get going and had to wait until the 61st minute to open the scoring, Antoine Griezmann latching on to Juanfran’s fine ball down the right flank before dinking neatly over Las Palmas stopper Leandro Chichizola.
“The first half was not very good but the coach gave us a good talking to at half-time, and we responded well,” said Griezmann, whose goal was just his seventh in the league this season but his fourth in league and cup since the turn of the year.
“I feel good, I’ve started the year well and I hope to continue the goals and assists.”
Frenchman Griezmann started the move that led to Atletico’s second, intercepting a loose pass and setting Angel Correa free to scamper down the pitch and feed Fernando Torres, who shifted the ball onto his right foot and lashed home just his second goal of the season, the 600th scored by Atletico in all competitions during Diego Simeone’s seven-year reign as coach.
An easy tap-in from Thomas Partey after great work from Yannick Carrasco two minutes from time completed the second-half rout of a desperate Las Palmas, who remain second from bottom and five points from safety.
Sevilla were denied the chance to close within three points of Real Madrid and the Champions league places after Angel Rodriguez scored a controversial equaliser deep in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw for Getafe at the Roman Sanchez Pizjaun stadium.
Luis Muriel had slid in a 72nd-minute for hosts but with seconds to spare Juan Cala challenged Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico for a hopeful high ball, and with the Sevilla fans and players clamouring for a free-kick, Angel lashed home the leveller and celebrated under a hail of whistles and boos.
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Just out of interest, why was the thumbs down removed? Media regulations or something?
GOAT
@Jordo: Pele has nothing to do with this article
@Adrian Costigan: MESSSIII MESSIII
@Adrian Costigan: No player of Pele’s era wouldn’t last 30mins in today’s top tier. Its like saying Carl Lewis is a better sprinter than Usain Bolt. Messi is the GOAT.
Google “Greatest soccer player of all time” (soccer to avoid all the American football lists)
You will see that not one of those lists has Messi as number 1.
Pele didn’t play in an era with 20 cameras at every game.
@Adrian Costigan: google some lists you say? Well that’s him told. End of discussion. What google domain are you using that it would tbrow up some hand egg lists
@Shawn Rahoon: @Jordo
You don’t know much about the history of football.
@Shawn Rahoon: not their fault and I think they could. A bit like that guy who ran a marathon after no training the second time
Amazing his accuracy and continuous scoring ability from free kicks. The most sublime. Yet can miss penalties so much. Goes to show all greats have flaws.
He’s good but can he win a header against Daryl Murphy I think not.
On the basis of that performance tonight they won’t be leading the champions league teams on a merry dance. Very fortunate to get a win. Barely deserved a draw
@Gary O’Hanlon: they played mid week and also left out their two full backs.
Sign of a great team when you win ugly
@John O Sullivan: I was thinking the same , when you win games like that it boosts confidence too..
@Gary O’Hanlon: one swallow doesn’t make a summer. And even the greatest teams didn’t win every game 4-0 or more. You new to this ?
@Brian: this Barca side is in no way one of the greatest teams. Did you start watching Barcelona in August? Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them put out by Chelsea, they haven’t got past the qfinals of the champions league since 2015. But you think they’ll have City chasing shadows and that Jose is “undoubtedly ” the best club manager ever of recent times so maybe I’ll not take any direction from you.
Friend still wants to know if it will be Coutinho in the headline again next week?
GOAT