Messi double lights up Barca’s record start
19 Nov 2012 7:51 AM IST
Lionel Messi continued his prolific scoring with a brace as Barcelona beat Zaragoza 3-1 to make the best ever start to a Liga season. There were doubts that Tito Vilanova could take on the mantle left by Pep Guardiola this summer but he has proved himself in emphatic fashion with the team notching up eleven wins and a draw so far. Messi opened the scoring but while Francisco Montanes brought Zaragoza level, Alex Song restored the advantage before the break. Messi got his second and his 17th of the season to ensure a victory and another record with Barca’s start beating those of Real Madrid in the 1968-69 and the 1991-92 seasons.
Barca had their preferred centre-half pairing of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol available for the first time since mid-September due to injuries and Song was chosen ahead of Javier Mascherano to play the defensive midfield role with Sergio Busquets suspended. The main surprise for Zaragoza was the decision to play Carlos Aranda in attack rather than the in-form Helder Postiga with the likely reason that he is more of a team player who drops deep than an out-and-out striker.
Injuries and suspension forced Zaragoza to field makeshift defence with Raul Goni coming in at left back and Adam Pinter in the centre, and they struggled from the start especially on the left. Jordi Alba crossed for Messi in the first minute and though he shot just wide the Argentine did put Barca ahead after 15 minutes with Alba again the supplier.
Earlier, a contentious late penalty by Roberto Soldado condemned nine-man Espanyol to a 2-1 defeat by Valencia. Bottom-side Espanyol more than held their own after Samuele Longo equalised Jonathan Viera’s opener but minutes from the end Hector Moreno was adjudged to have handled in the area. Replays suggest the ball hit his chest. Moreno and Sergio Garcia were dismissed for complaining. Elsewhere, Malaga drew 0-0 away to Osasuna.
Barca had their preferred centre-half pairing of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol available for the first time since mid-September due to injuries and Song was chosen ahead of Javier Mascherano to play the defensive midfield role with Sergio Busquets suspended. The main surprise for Zaragoza was the decision to play Carlos Aranda in attack rather than the in-form Helder Postiga with the likely reason that he is more of a team player who drops deep than an out-and-out striker.
Injuries and suspension forced Zaragoza to field makeshift defence with Raul Goni coming in at left back and Adam Pinter in the centre, and they struggled from the start especially on the left. Jordi Alba crossed for Messi in the first minute and though he shot just wide the Argentine did put Barca ahead after 15 minutes with Alba again the supplier.
Earlier, a contentious late penalty by Roberto Soldado condemned nine-man Espanyol to a 2-1 defeat by Valencia. Bottom-side Espanyol more than held their own after Samuele Longo equalised Jonathan Viera’s opener but minutes from the end Hector Moreno was adjudged to have handled in the area. Replays suggest the ball hit his chest. Moreno and Sergio Garcia were dismissed for complaining. Elsewhere, Malaga drew 0-0 away to Osasuna.
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