Deadly duo

MADRID, January 7 

Lionel Messi scored for the seventh time in four La Liga games as champions Barcelona scrapped their way to a hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe on Sunday that propelled them five points clear at the top of the table.

Messi, La Liga’s top scorer this season, opened his account for 2019 with his 16th goal, giving Barca a 20th-minute lead as he tucked the ball into the net from a tight angle after his initial shot was saved by the legs of Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.

It took the Argentine’s career tally to a staggering 399 goals in La Liga before Uruguay striker Luis Suarez doubled Barca’s advantage in the 39th with a spectacular volley from outside the area.

Yet Getafe hit back two minutes before the interval with a close-range finish from striker Jaime Mata after a splendid team move and continued to push hard after the break. — Reuters

MESSI AND SUAREZ OUTGUN MADRID

Real Madrid have struggled to find the net this season in the absence of all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus in July. By contrast, Barcelona’s strikers have been the league’s most lethal. Lionel Messi leads the scoring charts with 16 and is followed by teammate Luis Suarez on 12, the duo netting 28 goals out of Barcelona’s 50. The South American pair has outscored Madrid’s whole side, with Los Blancos managing a paltry 26 in total. 

CRISIS COVER-UP

Real Madrid’s stumble against Real Sociedad saw them slump to fifth in the standings, 10 points behind leaders Barcelona. Their performances under Santiago Solari, even when they win, have been uninspiring and as a result just 53,412 turned up to watch the match on Sunday, their second worst attendance of the campaign. Little over an hour afterwards, Madrid announced the signing of Manchester City midfielder Brahim Diaz. It was an attempt to bat away crisis headlines, but it did not work. The club are in “a crisis that never ends,” said Madrid daily Marca, while editor Jose Luis Calderon singled out Solari for blame. 

VALENCIA FROZEN OUT

Alaves moved fourth, ahead of Real Madrid, with a 2-1 win over Valencia at Mendizorroza on Saturday but visiting coach Marcelino was furious about the pitch. The surface was icy, creating slippery conditions that made things difficult for both teams. “Of course (it should have been postponed),” said Marcelino. 

GRIEZMANN’S MISTAKE

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann scored a freekick to earn his team a 1-1 draw at Sevilla. He had an opportunity to win the game in the final stages but fired straight at Tomas Vaclik. “With more accuracy from Griezmann, we could have won,” said coach Diego Simeone.