Another Messi brace keeps Barca tops
MADRID - Barcelona pulled six points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga when Lionel Messi netted his seventh double of the campaign and set up Alex Song to open his account for the club in a 3-1 success at home to Real Zaragoza on Saturday.
ON THE DOUBLE
: Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates a goal against Zaragoza.
pHOTO: REUTERS
The win means new coach Tito Vilanova, who took over from Pep Guardiola at the end of last season, is the first to lead a side to 11 wins in their opening 12 La Liga matches since Radomir Antic achieved the feat with Real in 1991-92.
"The players made a big effort and you noticed they were tired after long trips to play with their national teams," Vilanova told a news conference.
"Leo is decisive and the great teams have great players, but he doesn't win games on his own," he added of Messi.
World Player of the Year Messi took his league tally for the season to 17 with a pair of beautifully executed finishes as unbeaten Barca moved on to 34 points from 12 matches.
Atletico had 28 points ahead of yesterday's game at Granada, while third-placed Real Madrid closed to within two of their city rivals when they crushed visiting Athletic Bilbao 5-1 in Saturday's late kickoff.
After Jon Aurtenetxe's early own goal, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira were on target for Real as Jose Mourinho's side continued their recovery from a poor start to their title defence with a seventh win in eight games.
Barca, who play at Spartak Moscow in the Champions League tomorrow, have dropped points only once in La Liga this term, a 2-2 draw at home to Real.
Malaga extended their winless run in La Liga to three matches when they were held to a 0-0 draw at struggling Osasuna.
Valencia beat Espanyol 2-1 at home thanks to a late penalty. - Reuters
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maneater
MESSILESSReport Abuse
sgivo
One Man Team.Report Abuse
Right-Back-Khumalo
Messi is a best player in the world for me, if not in football history. He has proved that he is better than Pele and I think he is better than Maradona. I never seen anything like this...There is no doubt that Messi is the best player in the world, he does incredible things and keeps on breaking records," Deco told Esports.
"I think Cristiano is nearly as good as Messi, but still Messi is the best. They are both phenomenal footballers, but in different ways. They are far and away the best footballers in the world." Deco.
"For now, only way to play with Messi is that he joins Santos. It's possible, you know. We can sell half of the city and buy him." Neymar.
"I am more a fan of Real Madrid," he told Marca. "But there is no doubt that Messi is the best player in the world." Brazil legend Ronaldo.
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NICEBOOBS
sgivoOne Man Team.
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You sound jealous...anyway Messi is da best and da whole Barca team plays quality football
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MalatengSec
@Sgivo____________________________________________________________________________________
he just scores for fun...and has proven it on international stage...mind u Barca can do without him as theyve also proven by winning Euro x2 and world cup...am mentioning this simply because spain comprise 75% of Barca players.
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TrippleXXX
I am also jealous. Why don't we have a player like Messi....Doctor khumalo, Jomo, Ace and many more also had a magic touch but manje we have abo Lekgwathi... nxa
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maftowncity
Messi he is just simply the best,last week he broke Pele 's record of 75 goals in calendar year,when he found the the net twice to take his tally to 76 goals in calendar year...(We also remember the record of Gerd Muller.....he held the score record in the tournament(W/C) with 14 goals,and that record stood 32years until Ronaldo broke it in 2006 W/Cup against Ghana,and his country man Klose equalled it in 2010 W/C) .
Messi,he is such a great player you cant miss him out when we talk about soccer...so sensational.the best player,accurate spot taker and set pieces...!
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spirro
Messi is the god of football, he is incredibleReport Abuse
CumFast
pro- CR7....CR7 was the best in England and is the best in spain....
I doubt Messi would still be the best if he leaves Barcelona!!
Messi is a good player playing for the quality side.
And Ronaldo is the best player playing for an average side..
Maradona is the best player in the history of soccer....he won the world cup with an average side. Pele played alongside Garrincha and Jairzinho, Tostão and Gérson(all superstars).
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Parolee
Although Messi is good, but I think that Spanish league is too weak as well. Every season it becomes a two team contest. When those two teams play its a foregone conclusion that they will win....it only becomes a matter of by how many goals. In the English Premiership things are very different...even the likes of Man U get defeated by teams like Norwhich, now that is a competitive league. Why don't Messi go there and prove himself beyond doubt? La liga is too easy. They just let the guy go through defenders as though they were glued to the ground, I think they worship him too much even when marking him. Cristiano made it in the much tougher EPL...to me he is much better.Report Abuse
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