In an action packed Barcelona vs Valencia La Liga clash, Lionel Messi’s class was too hot to handle for the visitors and Camp Nao witnessed another nail-biting event that brought back Barca to winning ways in the league.
As always, Valencia proved to be a tough opponent and scored the opener in the 29th minute through Eliaquim Mangala’s strike, before Luis Suarez equalized six minutes later. Just before halftime, Mangala was sent off for denying Suarez a goal-scoring opportunity and on the resultant penalty, Lionel Messi (45’) scored the first of his two goals to put the Catalans ahead in the game.
An already exciting first half, became even more thrilling when a 10-man Valencia leveled the score again, with Jose Gaya bursting clear and Munir tucking home his cross in extra time.
In the second half, the Catalans were far from their best but the man advantage was enough for Messi’s excellent second in the 52nd minute before Andre Gomes put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute with a goal against his former team.
https://twitter.com/FEnthusiastHd/status/843575982921519105
Here is Messi’s first strike in the 45th minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zfoYK-T3lQ
And then the magical second goal!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xubVqLDwe-U
This was Barcelona’s first home game after the thrilling 6-1 comeback against PSG and now the pressure is on Real Madrid (65 points) as the two teams sit at the top two positions in La Liga tally. The defending champions are following the ‘Men In Whites’ with 63 points under their belt.
Twitter, as you would expect, exploded and went wild after Messi’s magical performance.
https://twitter.com/FCBdaily/status/843584862254718977
Lionel Messi breaks the 25-goal barrier… 💥#FCBValencia #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/uZSjMCgX9p
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) March 19, 2017
BRACE! BRACE!
Lionel Messi scores his;
• 2nd of the match
• 18th of the year
• 43rd of the season
• 551st of his career#FCBLive pic.twitter.com/P6gQhgYbpa— Quotes on Messi 💬 (@MessiQuote) March 19, 2017
The greatest trick Lionel Messi ever pulled was convincing the world that he is human. #GOAT 🐐
— Shaurya Vineet (@ShauryaVineet) March 19, 2017
Lionel Messi: Man of the Match vs Valencia, Rating 9.79, Goals 2, Shots(OT) 8(4), Dribbles 8, Key Passes 5, Touches 90 @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/YaSsz5UINe
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 19, 2017
Lionel Messi has now scored 40+ goals across all competitions in EIGHT consecutive seasons at club level.
Out of this world. 👽 pic.twitter.com/2UYsfWjNM6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 19, 2017
Messi is just too good. Instinctive near post finish after skipping past his man.. didn't even look up.
— Arsène's Son 🎈 (@hughwizzy) March 19, 2017
Nobody slices his Spam as thin as #Messi !!!
— Ray Hudson (@RayHudson) March 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/LeoneIMESSl/status/843539059851116548
Messi's ⚽️ since 2010
47 – 09/10
53 – 10/11
72 – 11/12
60 – 12/13
41 – 13/14
58 – 14/15
41 – 15/16
41 – 16/17The greatest sportsman ever
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) March 19, 2017
20th March 2017
Rohan Jaitly