The Argentine was at the double again to lead the Catalans to a hard fought 2-1 win over Betis in a pretty tight affair.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 made history as he became the first player in history to score more than 85 goals in a calendar year.
The match saw a lot of mixed team news surround the Catalans as the Argentine international was facing a battle of fitness in order to make it to the starting line-up for the clash.
Going into the game, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 were holding a 6 point lead over their closest chasers Atletico Madrid and stayed 11 points ahead of arch rivals Real Madrid.
A win for Barcelona would see them retain their decent advantages over both their challengers.
It was good news for Barcelona supporters as Lionel Messi’s name was flashed in to the starting line-up for the Catalans.
Betis started the match really well and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joel-Campbell-c18716 made the first real opportunity for the hosts, but Salva’s header was too tame for Valdes.
Barca then lost Cesc Fabregas through injury, and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alexis-Sánchez-c4979 came on for him in the 10th minute.
Messi then opened the scoring for the Catalan giants in the 16th minute, as he managed to glide past multiple defenders and then calmly slotted his finish into the bottom corner of the Betis goal. The goal saw Messi equal Gerd Muller’s record
of 85 goals and it was no surprise that the little igneous was in search for a second.
The forward got the goal that he dreamt of in the 25th minute, after some great work by team-mate Andres Iniesta.
Iniesta found Messi inside the Betis box with a cute back-heel, and the Argentine finished it with the same accuracy that he executed in the first goal.
It was goal number 86 of the calendar year for the Barcelona forward and saw him overtake Gerd Muller’s record tally.
Barca’s defence was nowhere near its best and Ruben http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Castro-c8590 scored for the home side in the 39th minute. The Blaugrana however managed to hold on to their feeble lead, and ran out 2-1 winners in the match.
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