|
|
Played
February 19, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: Javier Turienzo Álvarez
Attendance: 74240
February 19, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: Javier Turienzo Álvarez
Attendance: 74240
Top of the Match
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
Barcelona
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
Barcelona
Flop of the Match
Adil Rami
Valencia
Valencia
Roberto Soldado
Valencia
Valencia
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Barcelona 5-1 Valencia: Sensational quartet from Messi demolishes visitors on 200th league appearance for Catalan giants
Pep Guardiola's side come from behind to claim three points at Camp Nou after humbling Unai Emery's men
By Martin Macdonald
Barcelona extended the gap between itself and Valencia to 11 points in La Liga with an impressive 5-1 victory over Unai Emery's side at Camp Nou this evening thanks to an unbelievable four goal tally from Lionel Messi and a strike from Xavi
Save for a shaky opening 10 minutes, the hosts were in charge for the majority of the match, and perhaps should have won by a bigger margin but found themselves facing an in-form Diego Alves, who made a number of world-class stops throughout the game.
Valencia got off to a flyer and went ahead in the ninth minute when Pablo Piatti took advantage of some indecision in the Barcelona defensive ranks to give Valencia the lead.
Sofiane Feghouli was given all the space in the world on the right wing to whip a cross into the centre of the box, where Piatti drifted in between Puyol and Busquets to poke the ball home after getting in front of the on-rushing Victor Valdes, who had lost the flight of the ball.
The Catalans started to find their feet as the first half progressed, and equalized in the 22nd minute through Messi, who was making his 200th La Liga appearance for Barcelona.
Pedro was the architect, and showed electric pace down the left to drive forward and slide a pass into the box. Messi picked up the ball after Adil Rami failed to clear and showed fantastic composure to slip the ball past Diego Alves from a tight angle.
The Argentine grabbed his second goal of the game just five minutes later when Andres Iniesta threaded a wonderful pass in behind the Valencia defense for Eric Abidal who picked out Messi at the far post. Alves made a great save from the first shot, but the Barca maestro stabbed home the rebound into the roof of the net.
The quarter of an hour after break was all Barcelona, who would have went 3-1 up if not for a truly magnificent save from Alves. Alexis Sanchez clipped a cross into the box for Messi to power a header at goal, but the Valencia goalkeeper somehow tipped the ball onto the crossbar, to add to an already impressive array of saves in the match.
Messi netted his hat-trick goal 15 minutes from time when he latched on to a saved Cristian Tello shot to smash the ball home from 12 yards an give Barcelona a commanding lead.
The Argentine got out the party tricks for the rest of the game, and scored an incredible fourth goal of the match five minutes from time when he drove through on goal and masterfully lifted the ball over Alves, and received a standing ovation from the majority of the Camp Nou crowd.
Xavi was introduced five minutes from time an completed the rout in the last minute of the match with a strike similar to the fourth goal, in which the substitute delightfully lifted the ball over Alves from 12 yards.
Barcelona remains in second place in La Liga 10 points behind Real Madrid, but further distances itself from Valencia in third place, with an 11 point gap between the sides having been established this evening.
Save for a shaky opening 10 minutes, the hosts were in charge for the majority of the match, and perhaps should have won by a bigger margin but found themselves facing an in-form Diego Alves, who made a number of world-class stops throughout the game.
Valencia got off to a flyer and went ahead in the ninth minute when Pablo Piatti took advantage of some indecision in the Barcelona defensive ranks to give Valencia the lead.
Sofiane Feghouli was given all the space in the world on the right wing to whip a cross into the centre of the box, where Piatti drifted in between Puyol and Busquets to poke the ball home after getting in front of the on-rushing Victor Valdes, who had lost the flight of the ball.
The Catalans started to find their feet as the first half progressed, and equalized in the 22nd minute through Messi, who was making his 200th La Liga appearance for Barcelona.
Pedro was the architect, and showed electric pace down the left to drive forward and slide a pass into the box. Messi picked up the ball after Adil Rami failed to clear and showed fantastic composure to slip the ball past Diego Alves from a tight angle.
The Argentine grabbed his second goal of the game just five minutes later when Andres Iniesta threaded a wonderful pass in behind the Valencia defense for Eric Abidal who picked out Messi at the far post. Alves made a great save from the first shot, but the Barca maestro stabbed home the rebound into the roof of the net.
The quarter of an hour after break was all Barcelona, who would have went 3-1 up if not for a truly magnificent save from Alves. Alexis Sanchez clipped a cross into the box for Messi to power a header at goal, but the Valencia goalkeeper somehow tipped the ball onto the crossbar, to add to an already impressive array of saves in the match.
Messi netted his hat-trick goal 15 minutes from time when he latched on to a saved Cristian Tello shot to smash the ball home from 12 yards an give Barcelona a commanding lead.
The Argentine got out the party tricks for the rest of the game, and scored an incredible fourth goal of the match five minutes from time when he drove through on goal and masterfully lifted the ball over Alves, and received a standing ovation from the majority of the Camp Nou crowd.
Xavi was introduced five minutes from time an completed the rout in the last minute of the match with a strike similar to the fourth goal, in which the substitute delightfully lifted the ball over Alves from 12 yards.
Barcelona remains in second place in La Liga 10 points behind Real Madrid, but further distances itself from Valencia in third place, with an 11 point gap between the sides having been established this evening.
Follow Goal.com on 
to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's 
page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking- Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
50 | 10 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
46 | 12 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
24 | 5 |
|
Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker Real Madrid |
22 | 0 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
21 | 0 |