Barcelona 4-1 Malaga: Lionel Messi Scores a Hat-Trick!

Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 12:41 pm , filed under Spanish Premiera Division by Andrew Jordan

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"FC Barcelona vs Real Betis Balompie" Lionel Messi scored two classically brilliant goals and an unusual header as FC Barcelona closed to within two points of the Spanish La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-1 fabulous victory at La Rosaleda in La Liga action on Sunday (22 Jan.)

Lionel Messi’s fifth hat-trick of the season sent Spanish and European champions Barcelona on their way to Real Madrid. Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola had stated after Wednesday’s victory at the Bernabéu that the 3-time FIFA Ballon D’Or winner had been below his best recently.

Barca’s Alexis Sanchez scored early in the second half of the game, after the interval Messi added his second with a brilliant alone effort. Iniesta played Adriano in down the left side, and the Brazilian’s slight cross found the head of Messi near the penalty spot.

Lionel Messi fixed through the Malaga defense with a stellar run to the right side of the goal box, knocking the ball home with the deftest of touches. Then, with ten-minutes to go, Messi troop from the middle of the pitch and calmly slotted into the right side of the net for his 22nd league goal of the season in just nineteen appearances.

On the other hand, Málaga manager Manuel Pellegrini men Salomon Rondon struck for the home side 5 minutes from time, beating Valdes low and to the left to give his team scant consolation, but Messi’s magic was the abiding memory of the game.

However, Malaga will host Sevilla this coming weekend, while FC Barcelona will return to action on Wednesday clash in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, where they will face Real Madrid, holding a 2-1 advantage.

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Tags: Alexis Sanchez, Barcelona, Barcelona 4-1 Malaga, Barcelona and Malaga, Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, Lionel Messi Goals, Lionel Messi Scores a Hat-Trick, Malaga, Salomon Rondon