Lupa Kata Sandi? Klik di Sini

atau Masuk melalui

Belum Memiliki Akun Daftar di Sini


atau Daftar melalui

Sudah Memiliki Akun Masuk di Sini

Konfirmasi Email

Kami telah mengirimkan link aktivasi melalui email ke rudihamdani@gmail.com.

Klik link aktivasi dan dapatkan akses membaca 2 artikel gratis non Laput di koran dan Majalah Tempo

Jika Anda tidak menerima email,
Kirimkan Lagi Sekarang

Messi-inspired Barca riding high before City, 'Clasico'  

Translator

Editor

15 March 2015 20:52 WIB

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates a goal against Rayo Vallecano during their Spanish first division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona March 8, 2015. Lionel Messi broke a Spanish hat-trick record as a rampant Barcelona took over top spot in La Liga with a 6-1 hammering of Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. REUTERS/Albert Gea

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Treble-chasing Barcelona are exactly where they want to be as they prepare for two matches this week that could make or break coach Luis Enrique's first season in charge.

Barca have won 16 of their 18 matches in 2015, their only blemishes defeats to Real Sociedad and Malaga in La Liga, and are in with a chance of repeating 2009's historic haul of Champions League and Spanish league and Cup.

Luis Enrique's men take a 2-1 lead into Wednesday's Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Manchester City, will be at least a point clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga when they host their arch rivals on Sunday and are through to May's King's Cup final to face Athletic Bilbao.

A big reason Barca are riding high is the form of talisman Lionel Messi, who has been scoring for fun since the turn of the year.

The Argentina forward added two more goals in Saturday's 2-0 La Liga win at Eibar, which put Barca four points clear of Real ahead of their match at home to Levante later on Sunday.

With Xavi and Andres Iniesta on the bench, Messi captained the side and put Barca ahead in the 31st minute when he converted a penalty.

The 27-year-old made it 2-0 with a header from a corner 10 minutes into the second half, his 32nd La Liga goal of the campaign and his 43rd in all competitions, two more than he managed in the whole of an injury-disrupted 2013-14.

Two goals clear of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo as La Liga's leading marksman this term, Messi has scored at least twice in 120 matches for club and country, 112 for Barcelona and eight for Argentina.

He has 11 matches left in which to try to match or surpass his own record for goals in a La Liga season of 50 set in 2011-12.

Speculation after the defeat at Sociedad that Messi and Luis Enrique had fallen out and the Argentine could even leave the club he joined as a 13-year-old has long been forgotten.

"We will go into the 'Clasico' as leaders and in perfect shape," Luis Enrique told a news conference after Saturday's victory.

"But we have to focus on City because we are playing for our classification," added the former Barca and Spain midfielder. "Then we will see what happens at the weekend."

(Editing by John O'Brien)

REUTERS




Valencia Knock Barcelona Off Copa del Rey Throne

26 Mei 2019

Valencia Knock Barcelona Off Copa del Rey Throne

Valencia beat Barcelona 2-1 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday, ending the Spanish champions' four-year winning streak.


La Liga to Broadcast Games on Youtube

11 Januari 2019

La Liga to Broadcast Games on Youtube

Matches from the second tier of Spanish football, known as La Liga 123, are to be broadcast on Youtube with English commentary.


Portugal Hopes for Miracle

19 Oktober 2018

Portugal Hopes for Miracle

Portugal wishes to avoid deadly showdown in World Cup play-off.


Greece Names Markarian New Coach

19 Oktober 2018

Greece Names Markarian New Coach

The 70-year-old Uruguayan replaces Italian Claudio Ranieri,
who was sacked after only coaching for three months.


Dismal Dutch Dumped Out of Euro 2016 Contention

14 Oktober 2015

Dismal Dutch Dumped Out of Euro 2016 Contention

The Dutch completed a catastrophic qualification series
Tuesday with a humiliating 3-2 defeat in Amsterdam to the 10-
man Czech Republic.


Sevilla send Barca to Second Straight Away Defeat

4 Oktober 2015

Sevilla send Barca to Second Straight Away Defeat

Champions Barcelona suffered their second defeat in three
matches in La Liga on Saturday with Michael Krohn-Dehli
scoring and setting up another goal


Ibrahimovic on the Spot at Last as PSG beat Guingamp

23 September 2015

Ibrahimovic on the Spot at Last as PSG beat Guingamp

Paris St Germain`s Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first Ligue
1 goal this season before missing a penalty as they beat En
Avant Guingamp 3-0


Barca`s Pique Apologises over Super Cup Red Card Rant

19 Agustus 2015

Barca`s Pique Apologises over Super Cup Red Card Rant

Barcelona centre back Gerard Pique has apologised for being
sent off in Monday`s Spanish Super Cup but denied insulting
the linesman.


West Ham Mark Bilic`s First Game in Dugout with Win

10 Juli 2015

West Ham Mark Bilic`s First Game in Dugout with Win

West Ham United must progress through three more rounds to reach the Europa
League group stages. The second qualifying round begins next week.


Barcelona Wrap Up 23rd La Liga Crown with Messi Goal

18 Mei 2015

Barcelona Wrap Up 23rd La Liga Crown with Messi Goal

Treble-chasing Barcelona are La Liga champions for the fifth
time in seven years.