Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Barcelona stay top of La Liga after an emphatic win over basement side Osasuna yesterday evening. It was a night to forget for the team propping up the other 19 clubs as that defeat also meant that they would be in the Segunda Division next season.
Luis Enrique’s team have had a habit this season of not performing the game afte a big victory, after their dramatic win in El Clasico on Sunday the question was whether or not they could contine their momentum.
There was absolutely no doubt of that after their performace at The Nou Camp last night. It was a gluttony of goals for the Catalan giants as Lionel Messi takes his goal tally up to 502. He reached the landmark 500 on Sunday and he would be on hand to score a brace last night.
It was he who opened the scoring on 12 minutes and on the half hour mark the advantage would be doubled as Andre Gomes scored his first of the night. Barcelona went into the break with a 2-0 advantage but that would be cut in half just three minutes after the restart thanks to Roberto Torres’s strike for Osasuna.
That would be as good as it got for the away side as Andre Gomes would regain Barcelona’s two goal advantage before the hour and just after the hour Lionel Messi got his second of the night to all but wrap up the three points. From there onwards it was a near party atmosphere.
And it was none more apparent when Javier Mascherano netted his first goal for the club after 7 years. He thumped home from the penalty spot after Messi had been withdrawn. The Argentine international was not due to take it at first but caved in due to pressure from teammates and fans alike.
That was in the meat in a Paco Alcacer goal sandwich, he had opened his account for the night just minutes before and he would still have time to be the third player of the night to score a brace of goals. With four minutes left on the clock the former Valencia found the net once more to wrap up a relentless Barcelona performance.
They stay top but Real Madrid still are hanging on their coattails after a crushing victory of their own later that same night.
Here is all you need to know from the Nou Camp
