Barcelona vs Huesca: Lionel Messi Marks Record Game With A Brace As Barcelona Down Huesca

Lionel Messi scored a spectacular double the identical night time he equalled Xavi Hernandez’s look report for Barcelona, the Argentinian inspiring his crew to a 4-1 win over Huesca on Monday. Messi tied Xavi’s 767 video games in all competitions for Barca and marked yet one more milestone with an excellent brace, a curling effort within the first half flying in off the crossbar at Camp Nou earlier than a late shot nestled within the nook. “He is crucial man within the historical past of Barca,” mentioned coach Ronald Koeman. “Even higher that he is nonetheless with us.”

Antoine Griezmann had earlier adopted go well with with one other spectacular shot into the highest nook earlier than Huesca pulled one again, Rafa Mir changing a uncertain penalty on the stroke of half-time.

However Messi helped Barca draw back, sending in a cross for Oscar Mingueza to go in after which scoring his second because the Catalans moved to inside 4 factors of league leaders Atletico Madrid.

Messi’s efficiency had all the important thing components of the 33-year-old’s genius. In a sport that celebrated his longevity, he confirmed his class with maybe his finest aim of the season, his creativity with an help and his consistency, by making it 13 consecutive campaigns that he has reached 20 La Liga targets.

“He is so decisive,” mentioned Huesca’s Mir. “They play with one man additional.”

Huesca keep backside, 4 factors adrift of security, whereas Barcelona proceed their very own wonderful kind.

They’ve now managed 11 wins and a draw from their final 12 matches, placing them close by of Atletico, who they nonetheless need to play at house in Might.

Messi ought to break Xavi’s report on Sunday towards Actual Sociedad and the membership toasted his achievement with a video that included tributes from quite a few present and former team-mates together with Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Andres Iniesta, Carlos Puyol and Xavi himself.

“You are still breaking information,” mentioned Suarez. “I believe this one says so much about you as a participant and what you signify for Barcelona.”

“We predict you are extraordinary, one thing from one other planet,” mentioned Neymar.

Koeman performed Frenkie de Jong once more within the centre of a again three however he was changed within the second half by Ronald Araujo, whose return from harm also needs to be a significant increase to Barca through the run-in.

Messi rose to the event within the thirteenth minute. He darted again to obtain a move from Busquets and flicked his first contact across the sliding Jorge Pulido. The ball was nonetheless spinning when he tapped it ahead and whipped a shot that flew off the crossbar and in.

Barcelona had been dominant and Jordi Alba thrashed a shot towards the crossbar earlier than Griezmann made it two, performed into house by Pedri and driving one other thundering effort into the identical nook Messi had picked out.

Promoted

De Jong poked a cross onto bar and Huesca got hope on the finish of the half when a scintillating counter-attack was rewarded with a mysterious penalty, Mir failing to attach with Ferreiro’s cross however given a spot-kick anyway, seemingly for a late problem from Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Mir made no mistake.

But Barca gave themselves respiration house when Mingueza headed in his first Barcelona aim from a cross by Messi, who had the final phrase, reducing in from the best and firing into the underside nook for his 661st.