Lionel Messi marks appearance landmark with two goals in Barcelona win

Lionel Messi marked his membership record-equalling 505th LaLiga look for Barcelona with two targets in a powerful 5-1 residence win towards Alaves.

Messi, who joined Xavi with most league video games performed for the Catalans, struck with a low 25-yard shot on the finish of the primary half after Trincao had opened the scoring on his full LaLiga debut.

Luis Rioja struck for Alaves early within the second half, however Trincao added his second and inside a minute Messi curled residence Barca’s fourth.

Junior Firpo accomplished the scoring with 10 minutes remaining as Barca prolonged their unbeaten league run to 12 matches and climbed as much as second within the desk, eight factors behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

Barca’s teenage midfielder Ilaix Moriba, additionally making his LaLiga debut, had an early header blocked earlier than the house facet went on to dominate the primary half.

Through the first 25 minutes Barca had over 80 per cent possession however did not carve out any clear-cut possibilities.

Rodrigo Battaglia’s Twenty eighth-minute volley was Alaves’ first effort on the right track and was simply saved by Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barca responded by taking a Twenty ninth-minute lead. Moriba collected a cross contained in the penalty space and unselfishly arrange Trincao, who lashed the ball residence via the legs of a defender on the objective line.

Messi thought he had made it 2-0 when firing residence a rebound after Antoine Griezmann’s shot had been saved, however the Frenchman had been offside.

However Barca skipper Messi was to not be denied in first-half stoppage time when he turned neatly away from his markers and fired a low 25-yard effort in off the within of a put up.

The Argentinian has scored in every of Barca’s final 5 matches.

Lucas Perez blazed a half-chance over for Alaves from a decent angle early within the second half however the guests pulled one again via substitute Rioja, who utilized an ice-cool end within the 57th minute.

Barca regained their two-goal lead 17 minutes later when Trincao adopted up after Messi’s preliminary shot had been saved goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.

Inside a minute Messi curled residence an excellent effort from 25 yards to make it 4-1 and he was central to Barca’s fifth within the eightieth minute, dinking the ball excessive to Griezmann, who teed up Firpo for an emphatic end.

Trincao was denied a hat-trick by the offside flag within the closing phases as Barca chased a sixth objective.