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Messi helps Barca remain perfect

September 20, 2017
Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi (C) vies with Eibar players during the Spanish league football match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona Tuesday. — AFP
Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi (C) vies with Eibar players during the Spanish league football match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona Tuesday. — AFP

MADRID — Lionel Messi added four more goals to his soaring early season tally as a much-changed Barcelona maintained their 100 percent start to La Liga by routing Eibar 6-1 Tuesday.

Paulinho and Denis Suarez also netted for the second consecutive game as Barca stretched its lead at the top of La Liga to seven points over Real Madrid.

“That Messi scored four goals now isn’t news,” said Barca boss Ernesto Valverde after the Argentine’s 43rd career hat trick.

“He has done it so many nights, in so many games. To keep repeating it is the most difficult thing.

“He is an extraordinary player. I have run out of words for him.”

Messi played in a more central role as Valverde heavily rotated his side for the first time since taking charge with Luis Suarez dropping to the bench among six changes from Saturday’s hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe.

Sergi Enrich reduced the arrears when he capitalized on some sloppy Barca defending to slot home David Junca’s cross.

Barca leads second-placed Sevilla, which hosts Las Palmas Wednesday, by five points with Valencia now just a point further adrift as it moved up to third thanks to Simone Zaza’s seven-minute hat trick in a 5-0 thrashing of Malaga.

Icardi rescues Inter

Shaven-headed skipper Mauro Icardi rescued a 1-1 draw for Inter Milan at Bologna Tuesday that ended his side’s perfect start to the Serie A season.

Luciano Spalletti had been looking to make it five wins from five but had to settle for just one point in Bologna.

Simone Verdi’s superb long range first-half goal was just the second conceded by Inter before Icardi — with a new distinctive shaved-head look stepped up to convert a contentious spot kick with 13 minutes to go at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

Inter has emerged as one of the title challengers to rival Juventus and Napoli who also had maximum points after four matches.

Now with 13 points, Inter moves provisionally top but Juventus and Napoli can pull ahead when they play Fiorentina and Lazio respectively Wednesday.

A win by Lazio — sitting fourth — would however put the Romans equal on points with Inter. — Agencies


September 20, 2017
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