Messi scores as Barcelona struggles past Malaga

Lionel Messi returned from injury to send Barcelona back to the top of La Liga as they won at Malaga.

Messi missed the midweek Copa Del Rey win at Athletic Bilbao with a hamstring problem, but came back to volley in Adriano’s cross for the decisive goal.

Munir El Haddadi gave Barca the lead with a tap-in after 70 seconds.

Poor defending allowed Juanpi to equalise for Malaga, before Messi sent Barca a point clear of Atletico Madrid, who host Sevilla on Sunday.

Barcelona were looking to strike a psychological blow in the title race, with Saturday morning leaders Atletico Madrid visiting the Nou Camp next weekend for a pivotal La Liga fixture.

They were grateful that Messi recovered in time to help them at La Rosaleda, although they had to make do without Neymar, who suffered a hamstring injury of his own during the week.

His replacement, Munir, got Barcelona off to the perfect start after the industrious Luis Suarez had got to the byeline to pull the ball back.

Messi was relatively quiet for much of the first half, aside from one clear chance just before half-time, when Miguel Torres made a magnificent block to deny him after Carlos Kameni had saved from Munir.

The Argentina international’s brilliance, though, came to the fore with a wonderfully-fashioned scissors volley for the winner six minutes into the second half.

Messi did later pick up a deserved booking for a late challenge on Ignacio Camacho, but he had already proved that, even when he is not at his best, he can still be a match-winner.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now