Spanish La Liga: Barcelona 7-1 Osasuna
Barca’s Lionel Messi scores brace in trouncing of Osasuna
The Spanish La Liga title race has heated up on the road to glory and silverware. Titan club Barcelona Fc has moved up to first place on the Primera Division Table, tied with giants Real Madrid with 78 points apiece. Atletico Madrid is in third with 68 points, Sevilla is in fourth with 65 points, and Villarreal is in fifth place with 60 points.
Match Report
FC Barcelona 7-1 Osasuna, Camp Nou
Barcelona goals: Lionel Messi 12, Filipe Andre Gomes 30, Filipe Andre Gomes 57, Lionel Messi 61, Paco Alcacer 64, Javier Mascherano 67 Pen, Paco Alcacer 86
Osasuna goal: Morales Roberto Torres 48
In a Barca goal fest, superstar striker Lionel Messi, Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer struck twice each as Barcelona defeated Osasuna and turned up the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division. Javier Mascherano scored the other Barcelona goal from the penalty spot to make it seven. The goal was his first ever for Barca. Messi opened the scoring for Barcelona at Camp Nou in the 12th minute, sending the ball over Salvatore Sirigu. Barcelona dominated the match and another goal arrived at 30 minutes as. Filipe Andre Gomes sent home Ivan Rakitic’s cross. After the break Osasuna scored their only goal of the match as Roberto Torres sent in a superb free-kick at 48 minutes after an unnecessary foul by Sergio Busquets. Javier Mascherano’s header was tipped on the post, and Ivan Rakitic was denied a clear penalty when Jhon Steven fouled him. Andre Gomes netted his second from Gerard Pique’s effort that bounced back off the post at 57 minutes to make the score 3-1. Four minutes later, Lionel Messi sent home his second goal from the edge of the box, 4-1. Paco Alcacer made it 5-1 at 64 minutes. And Mascherano scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot after Denis was fouled 6-1. Alcacer scored goal seven for Barca and the fans went wild.
Lionel Messi returned, triumphant, to the Camp Nou after killing the Real Madrid dragon on St George’s Day in the second El Clasico of the season. Messi netted his 500th goal for the club with his last minute Clasico winner. Messi was honored with a tribute and a gigantic banner to congratulate him. Supporters sang Messi’s name in the 10th minute and took their shirts off, imitating his celebration after his second goal against Real Madrid. And two minutes later he repaid them with another superb goal, lifted over Sirigu into the net. Messi was criticized after Barcelona was knocked out of the prestigious Champions League by Italian giant club – but after training alone following the loss, Messi is as good or better that ever. Osasuna did not do well in their relegation fight at the bottom of La Liga. The Navarra club played cagily in the first half, even being down 2-0, and it looked like they would go down to the second division without a fight. After Torres’ free-kick gave them a sliver of hope at 2-1, mighty Barca whisked it away showing no pity with a goal fest, hammering four more goals in an 11-minute rally. Other than some nice goals from Osasuna striker Sergio Leon, the Navarra side haven’t offered much to La Liga this season and will go down with a whimper.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique rotated his side to rest some of his players so they will remain fit for the tougher challenges ahead at the end of the season. There may be major changes at Barcelona this summer and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a couple of players from this starting XI leave. Except for Ter Stegen, Pique, Busquets and Messi, other footballers on the team would be fair game if a sufficient bid arrived for them. Gomeswho is still learning to fit in after joining last summer scored a brace. Reportedly Javier Mascherano may leave this summer as he may not still be physically up to playing for the club week in, week out throughout the season. Mascherano last scored in 2010 while at Liverpool and his penalty header was his first for Barcelona, only his fourth strike in club colors Mascherano has five for Argentina. The popular defender reportedly is planning an exit this summer. This was Paco Alcacer’s third straight La Liga start and with Neymar’s suspension the former Valencia star was given a chance to play. Alcacer did not score in the Clasico, but he worked hard on the left for Barcelona in this game. Neymar will return to fight against Espanyol on Saturday.
Squads
Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Pique, Mascherano, Digne; Busquets, Denis Suarez, Rakitic, Gomes, Turan; Messi, Alcacer Subs: Cillessen, Iniesta, L Suarez, Alba, Roberto, Umtiti, Alena.
Osasuna
Sirigu; Buñuel, Oier, Steven, Fuentes; Roberto Torres, Tienza, Mérida, Romero, De las Cuevas; Sergio León Subs: Mario, Causic, Kenan, Clerc, Baria, Marquez, Olavide.
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