The Barcelona superstar played the ball into the box for 17-year-old winger Ansu Fati to knock for the starting goal against Alaves on Sunday.
New record for the most Assists
Leo Messi has set a new record for the most assists in LaLiga in a single season, beating former Barcelona team-mate Xavi in the process. The Barcelona superstar played the ball into the box for 17-year-old winger Ansu Fati to knock for the starting goal against Alaves on Sunday. The assist was Messi’s 21st in the league this term, breaking the record set by his former team-mate Xavi in 2008-09. Messi caught up with Xavi’s 1-0 win last week against Real Valladolid when he became the first Spanish top-flight player to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a single campaign. Only 10 minutes after setting up Fati, Messi scored his goal when he ran to pass from Riqui Puig before knocking past Alaves goalkeeper Roberto to double the leadership of the Catalan side.
The top scorer Pichichi Trophy for Messi
The Argentina international shot again in the second half. His side went 5-0 up, taking their to 25 goals in LaLiga this season, stretching their lead over Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Messi will qualify for the league’s top scorer Pichichi trophy for the seventh time in his career unless the France international scores at least five goals in their last game of the season at Leganes on Sunday. Barcelona extended their lead against Alaves to 3-0 when Luis Suarez shot shortly before the half, and Nelson Semedo added another 12 minutes in the second half. Quique Setien’s side has already been confirmed as placements as they lost 2-1 to Osasuna at home on Thursday. At the same time, Madrid secured the title on Thursday with a 2-1 win over Villarreal to move their fierce rivals seven points ahead.
Barca helped a lot to Real Madrid
After Sunday’s meeting, Barca will pay attention to the Champions League campaign before returning in August. The Camp Nou outfit will meet with Napoli on August 8 in the second leg of their last-16 tie, playing 1-1 in their first match in February before the competition was suspended due to coronavirus. And Messi warned in the middle of the week that his side must step up their game if they want to have a chance to reach the quarterfinals to face either Chelsea or Bayern Munich. “We have to be self-critical,” he said after the match against Osasuna. “Starting with the players, but making global self-criticism. We are Barça, and we must win everything. We cannot look at Madrid. Madrid did their job, but we helped them a lot.
If we want to win the Champions League, we have to change a lot. If we continue this way, we will lose the game against Napoli.