Messi performs 750th recreation for Barça, Suárez leads Atlético win
Lionel Messi arrange Frenkie de Jong for a aim to assist earn a 1-0 win at Huesca within the Argentine nice’s 750th general look for Barcelona and his five hundredth within the Spanish league. The 33-year-old Messi trails solely Xavi Hernández because the Barcelona participant with probably the most video games performed. Xavi performed 767 video games in all competitions, together with 505 la Liga matches.Messi’s newest milestone got here lower than two weeks after he surpassed Pelé’s all-time membership scoring report for Santos by netting his 644th aim for Barcelona.Barcelona dominated last-place Huesca however might solely handle De Jong’s aim within the twenty seventh minute. Messi lobbed a go ahead to fulfill De Jong’s run behind the protection, with the Netherlands midfielder steering the ball contained in the upright.Huesca goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández saved Messi’s two possibilities, stopping him from including to his league report of 451 objectives. He blocked a free kick simply earlier than halftime and smothered shot from shut vary within the 68th.Barcelona’s win got here after Messi sat out a 1-1 draw with Eibar final spherical to get better from an ankle downside.The victory moved Barcelona forward of Sevilla into fifth place.Ronald Koeman’s staff is 10 factors behind chief Atlético Madrid, which obtained a late aim from Luis Suárez to win 2-1 at Alavés.SUÁREZ CLUTCHAtlético was moments from enduring a setback towards an Alavés that performed with 10 males for nearly half an hour.That was when Suárez got here by way of with the Ninetieth-minute winner. The former Barcelona striker scored from shut vary finishing a cross by João Félix shortly after Atlético had conceded an equalizer.Suárez additionally helped Atlético take the lead with a Forty first-minute help to Marcos Llorente, who cleared three defenders outdoors the world earlier than firing a low shot that deflected off a defender earlier than discovering the web.Alavés misplaced defender Victor Laguardia with a straight crimson card decided by video evaluation for a tough foul on Thomas Lemar. The hosts equalized within the 84th when Atlético defender Felipe discovered his personal web whereas attempting to clear a cross inside the world.The win gave Atlético a two-point lead over second-place Real Madrid, which defeated Celta Vigo 2-0 at house on Saturday. Atlético has two video games in hand on its metropolis rival.“We had the game in hand, we didn’t put it away, then came their goal,” Atlético coach Diego Simeone mentioned. “The best part about today’s game was how the team handled the final minutes without getting nervous. The goal was a good one, with our No. 9 just where he should be.” Simeone’s staff has gained 11 of its previous 12 league matches, with the one setback a 2-0 loss at Madrid 4 rounds in the past.Alavés, which stayed in eleventh place, has one win in its its previous six matches.
