Messi celebrates levelling Xavi record with a brace
Lionel Messi scored a magnificent double the same nights he equalled Xavi Hernandez's overall look record for Barcelona, the Argentinian inspiring his workforce to a 4-1 make an impression on Huesca on Monday.
Messi tied Xavi's 767 games in every competitions for Barca and marked yet another milestone with an excellent brace, a curling work in the first one half flying in off the crossbar at Camp Nou before a later shot nestled in the corner.
"He's the main man in the annals of Barca," stated coach Ronald Koeman. "Better still that he's still with us."
Antoine Griezmann had previous followed go well with with another impressive shot in to the top part before Huesca pulled one backside, Rafa Mir converting a good doubtful penalty on the stroke of half-time.
But Messi helped Barca pull away, sending in a good cross for Oscar Mingueza to mind in and scoring his second as the Catalans moved to within four points of group leaders Atletico Madrid.
Messi's efficiency had all of the key factors of the 33-year-old's genius. In a game that celebrated his longevity, he showed his category with perhaps his very best goal of the growing season, his imagination with an support and his regularity, by so that it is 13 consecutive campaigns that he has already reached 20 La Liga goals.
"He's so decisive," explained Huesca's Mir. "They take up with one guy extra."
Huesca stay bottom, four points adrift of safety, while Barcelona continue their own excellent form.
They have finally managed 11 wins and a pull from their last 12 matches, putting them within sight of Atletico, who they still have to play at home in May.
Messi should break Xavi's record on Sunday against Real Sociedad and the golf club toasted his accomplishment with a video tutorial that included tributes from numerous current and ex - team-mates including Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Andres Iniesta, Carlos Puyol and Xavi himself.
"You're still breaking data," said Suarez. "I think that one says a whole lot about you as a player and what you represent for Barcelona."
"We think you're extraordinary, something from another world," said Neymar.
Koeman played Frenkie de Jong again at the heart of a back 3 but he was replaced found in the second 1 / 2 by Ronald Araujo, whose return from injury also needs to be a major raise to Barca through the run-in.
Messi rose to the celebration in the 13th minute. He darted back again to receive a move from Busquets and flicked his primary touch around the sliding Jorge Pulido. The ball was still spinning when he tapped it forwards and whipped a go that flew off the crossbar and in.
Barcelona were dominant and Jordi Alba thrashed a go against the crossbar before Griezmann made it two, played into space by Pedri and traveling another thundering effort in to the same corner Messi had chosen.
De Jong poked a cross onto bar and Huesca received hope towards the end of the half whenever a scintillating counter-attack was rewarded with a mysterious penalty, Mir failing to hook up with Ferreiro's cross but given a spot-kick anyway, seemingly for a late challenge from Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Mir built no mistake.
But Barca gave themselves breathing space when Mingueza headed found in his first Barcelona goal from a good cross by Messi, who had the last word, cutting found in from the right and firing in to the bottom part for his 661st.
