Barcelona defeated 10-man Valencia 4-2 on Sunday to cut Real Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to two points although Zidane’s men maintain a game in hand. A Lionel Messi brace propelled Barca at the Camp Nou, taking him over 40 goals in all competitions for the eighth consecutive season.
Lionel Messi: Has scored 40+ goals in all competitions for Barcelona for the eighth season in a row #FCBValencia
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 19, 2017
With the scores level at 1-1, Messi provided the inspiration with a beautiful through ball that sent Luis Suarez clear on goal. Eliaquim Mangala pulled the Uruguayan back in the box and received a red card for his offense.
Messi took the penalty and gave Barcelona the lead, although that lead only lasted for one minute.
Hero to zero.
Goalscorer @Elia22Mangala sees red and @TeamMessi converts the resulting penalty. #beINLaLiga https://t.co/tfv53bDsDt— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 19, 2017
With the scores level at 2-2 in the second half, Messi again made the difference by firing home off a pass from Andres Iniesta.
The inevitable happens.
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 19, 2017
Andre Gomes added Barcelona’s fourth in the 89th minute. Barcelona’s next seven matches will play a massive role in determining the success of their season (barring their Copa del Rey final in May).
Barca travel to Granada on April 2nd, host Sevilla on the 5th, travel to Malaga on the 8th, travel to Turin to face Juventus on the 11th, host Real Sociedad on the 16th, host Juventus on the 19th and then travel to Madrid for El Clasico on the 23rd.
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