SM
Man City vs. Everton: 10 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
SL
La Liga | Gameweek 25
Feb 23, 2019 at 3.15pm UK
 
BL

2-4

Navas (22'), Mercado (42')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Messi (26', 67', 85'), Suarez (90')

Messi puts team success first after notching 50th career hat-trick

:Headline: Messi puts team success first after notching 50th career hat-trick: ID:351307: from db_amp
The Argentina star struck three times as Barcelona toppled Sevilla 4-2 to move 10 points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Lionel Messi typically played down his latest hat-trick heroics after the 50th treble of his career helped Barcelona twice come from behind to beat Sevilla 4-2.

Barca moved 10 points clear at the top of LaLiga as Messi's goalscoring love affair with Sevilla continued at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

The Argentina star has now scored more goals against Sevilla than any other team – 36 in 35 matches, including what is now three hat-tricks.

"I'm happy to contribute to the result here today and the three points, that's the most important thing, that we've got our advantage still over our rivals," Messi told Barca's website.

Sevilla took the lead twice in the first half through Jesus Navas and Gabriel Mercado, either side of a Messi volley.

Messi equalised for the second time with a curler from the edge of the box and chipped home keeper Tomas Vaclik for number three before Luis Suarez wrapped up the scoring.

"It was really important to win here today because of what it means, because of the opponents, and because of how the league is," added Messi.

"It was important to maintain the advantage we had over the teams chasing us and take on what's coming.

"We are relaxed in that sense, we know we've got quality players, we know the goals will come, we know we can get back to playing our kind of football.

"I think we haven't been at our best in the last few matches but we want to play good football, creating chances and scoring goals.

"We knew how difficult it was going to be here. Sevilla got themselves ahead, they're a great team. We knew that could happen.

Lionel Messi completes his 50th career hat-trick as Barcelona fight back to beat Sevilla (Miguel Morenatti/AP)

"We were prepared for a tough game. We had to overcome them and we had to turn the result around."

Sevilla have won just one of their last nine matches but boss Pablo Machin told the club website: "We put in an amazing performance in the first half but then our momentum was stopped by forced changes.

"We had to change the system. They were on top in the second half."

amp_article__351307 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-02-23 19:36:43:
html db last update - 2019-02-23 19:36:43 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Lionel Messi

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
Read more about Lionel Messi Football
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .