Skip to main content

Barca win, Atletico close on Sevilla

Barcelona closed to within two points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as Lionel Messi scored twice in a thrilling 4-2 win over 10-man Valencia at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Earlier, Antoine Griezmann scored a stunning free-kick as Atletico Madrid compounded a week to forget for Sevilla with a 3-1 at the Vicente Calderon.
Barca needed to come from behind to keep the pressure on Madrid as Eliaquim Mangala headed Valencia in front.
But the on-loan Manchester City defender was sent-off for pulling down Luis Suarez after the
Uruguayan had levelled and Messi smashed home the resulting penalty.
Munir El Haddadi briefly levelled for the 10 men before halftime, but Messi and finally Andre Gomes with his first Barca goal sealed the three points.
Madrid still also have a game in hand over their title rivals.
Outgoing Barca coach Luis Enrique named the same side that beat Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 10 days ago to progress to the Champions League quarterfinals in stunning fashion.
And while not matching that drama, there was no shortage of action as Valencia showed up the defensive flaws in Enrique's new 3-4-3 system.
Messi had already had an effort cleared off the line, while Mats-Andre ter Stegen made a stunning save from Carlos Soler at the other end before an action packed final 15 minutes of the first-half saw four goals and a red card.
Barca's weakness from set-pieces was exposed again a week on from conceding twice from corners in a 2-1 defeat at Deportivo la Coruna when Mangala powered home Dani Parejo's corner to open the scoring.
The lead lasted just six minutes as Suarez raced onto Neymar's throw-in to slot into the far corner.
Mangala went from hero to villain as he then pulled down Suarez inside the area to concede a penalty and be sent-off.
Messi beat penalty specialist Diego Alves from the spot.
However, straight from kick-off Barca were caught cold as Jose Gaya teed up Munir El Haddadi to score against his parent club for the second time this season.
The champions still had 45 minutes to make their man advantage count, though, and they did so despite missing a host of chances after the break.
Messi drilled home at Alves's near post seven minutes into the second period for his 41st goal of the season.
Suarez somehow slotted wide with the goal gaping after Alves had denied Messi his hat-trick, while Neymar hit the bar.
But Barca finally put the game to bed a minute from time when Neymar crossed for Gomes to tap home against his old side.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Prosecutors allege rapper Young Thug led gang as trial begins and many details unfolded

  Prosecutors in Atlanta said Monday that rapper Young Thug was the “proclaimed leader” of a gang that “moved like a pack” to commit crimes, as opening statements in a long-delayed racketeering case got underway. Controversy and hiccups have dogged the sprawling trial alleging criminal conspiracy since jury selection began in January, notably over the state’s presentation of rap lyrics as evidence. The US state of Georgia holds that Young Thug’s record label, YSL, is a front for a crime ring, arguing that the defendants belong to a branch of the Bloods street gang identified as Young Slime Life, or YSL. “The evidence will show that YSL checks all of the boxes for being a criminal street gang,” said Fulton County prosecutor Adriane Love as she delivered the government’s statement, which she began by quoting Rudyard Kipling’s “Law of the Jungle.” Love addressed the issue of songwriting head on: “We didn’t chase the lyrics to solve the murder, we chased the murder and found the lyrics.” S

N81 Billion NDDC Probe: Senate calls for sack of IMC, reconstitution of new NDDC board

*** Indicts Self, FG, Akpabio, Asks Presidency To Take Over NDDC, Not Minister  ***Calls on IMC to Refund Extra Budgetary Expenditure of N4.923 Billion  *** As Senate Vows to Review the Act establishing the NDDC  *** Probes alleged blackmail by NDDC against some members of the National Assembly  *** As Senate Adjourns till September 15 The NDDC which was hitherto in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF is now being oversighted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, following recent directives by the presidency. THE Senate Thursday indicted itself as an institution  for not carrying out an effective oversight function on the activities of the Interim Management Committee, IMC of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC that led to the rot and high level of corruption in the interventionist agency. The Senate has also indicted the Federal Government, the IMC for the problems, saying that with

Ronaldo Left Out Of Portugal Squad

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the Portugal squad amid ongoing rape allegations Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the Portugal squad for upcoming matches against Poland and Scotland, amid ongoing rape allegations in the United States. Ronaldo has been accused of rape by Kathryn Mayorga, who says the player assaulted her in Las Vegas in 2009. He has denied the accusation. The national captain will miss his country's UEFA Nations League game with Poland on October 11, before a friendly with Scotland three days late. Ronaldo joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer The Juventus forward also missed Portugal's first two post-World Cup matches last month, with coach Fernando Santos saying Ronaldo had only just moved to the Italian club and needed time to settle in. Santos used the 33-year-old team captain's absence last month to try out younger players in the senior side.