300-up Messi makes history in La Liga

The five-time World Player of the Year struck either side of Carlos Castro’s wellworked equaliser in a three-goal burst in five first-half minutes. Luis Suarez missed a second-half penalty days after famously converting Messi’s pass from a spot-kick against Celta Vigo, but made amends with a brilliant finish for Barca’s third. Atletico Madrid are Barca’s closest challengers with Real Madrid a further point adrift in third. “We are where we want to be and depend on ourselves,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. 

“I think we controlled the game and created a lot of clear chances despite the problems that are always caused when a team plays a lot of men behind the ball.” The match had been postponed due to Barcelona’s commitments in the Club World Cup in December and, with a huge clash against fellow strugglers Real Betis to come on Saturday, Sporting boss and former Barca defender Abelardo Fernandez made nine changes to his side from the team that started Friday’s 2-2 draw with Rayo Vallecano. 

However, in a match dominated by the European champions, it was the hosts who had the first clear opening as Alex Menendez shot just wide from Barca loanee Alen Halilovic’s through ball. 

Luis Enrique also made five changes, but the star front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar started after their incredible display in the 6-1 thrashing of Celta at the weekend. 

Suarez had the first chance to extend his lead as the league’s top scorer from Neymar’s inch-perfect pass, but the Uruguayan fired straight at Ivan Cuellar. Messi broke the deadlock with a deadly accurate drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards to become the first player ever to bring up a triple century of La Liga goals.

Yet, the lead only lasted two minutes as a brilliant counter-attack saw Pablo Perez pick out Menendez on the left and his low cross was swept home at the back post by Castro.