Madrid: Lionel Messi scored twice as he tied Xavi Hernández’s record of most appearances for Barcelona, putting them within four points of the Spanish league lead after beating last-placed Huesca 4-1. For his 767th match, Lionel Messi was honoured by Barcelona with a large image behind one of the goals showing him embracing Xavi as the players looked forward and pointed upward. The banner included the words ‘767 matches’ and ‘touching the sky’.
“It’s incredible,” Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman said. “His impact on this team is enormous. It’s amazing what he has done for this club up until now,” the Dutchman added.
Antoine Griezmann and Óscar Mingueza also scored at the Camp Nou Stadium as the Catalan club won their fourth straight league match to increase the pressure on leader Atlético Madrid.
Atlético, seeking their first league title since 2014, had a comfortable lead until recently, having won only two of its last six league games. They were held 0-0 at Getafe, Saturday. Diego Simeone’s team will visit Barcelona in May.
“We always said we wouldn’t give up,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri González said after the game. “We have a good squad that can keep fighting for this title and we have momentum on our side,” he added.
Barcelona, coming off elimination by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16, were in control from the start Monday. Messi scored in each half for his 130th double in the league. He opened the scoring with a shot into the top corner after a nifty one-touch to clear a defender just outside the area in the 13th minute. He then closed the scoring with another shot from outside the area in the 90th.
The Argentine playmaker has 21 league goals, three more than Atlético’s Luis Suárez at the top of the scoring list.
Barcelona kept pressing and nearly added to the lead when Jordi Alba hit the crossbar in the 33rd minute. A couple of minutes later Griezmann added his goal with a well-struck curling shot into the top corner past Huesca goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández.
Huesca pulled one back through a penalty kick earned after a breakaway in first half stoppage time. It was converted by forward Rafa Mir.
However, their joy was short-lived as Mingueza scored his first goal for Barcelona with a header off a cross by Messi in the 53rd.