Messi stars for Barca in win over Malaga
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E-mail Xinhua, January 14, 2013
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Leo Messi scored the opener for Barcelona in their 3-1 win over Malaga on Jan.13, 2013. |
FC Barcelona's incredible start to the season as the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga season reached its halfway point.
Goals from Leo Messi, Cesc Fabrigas and Thiago Alcantara set Barca on their way to a comfortable and convincing 3-1 win away to Malaga to give the Catalans 55 points from a possible 57 in the opening 19 games.
Tito Vilanova's side have won 18 matches and drawn just one and are on course to smash all the records in Spanish football. The result was never in doubt from the moment Messi opened the scoring after 27 minutes and the fact that Vilanova was on the bench to see the win after spending the week in New York for a second opinion on his cancer treatment was even more good news for the league leaders.
Atletico Madrid remain second following a comfortable home win over Zaragoza: Thiago Cardoso opened the scoring with a header after 31 minutes before Radamel Falcao doubled Atletico's lead from the penalty spot before the break.
The second half was a bit of a non-event as both sides looked to save their strength for next week's cup quarter finals.
Real Madrid remain third despite a dull 0-0 draw away to Osasuna. Real Madrid were without Cristiano Ronaldo and looked short of attacking ideas in a game they finished with 10 men after Kaka was shown two second half yellow cards in just over 15 minutes.
Betis continue with excellent season with a 2-0 win at home to Levante, who drop to eighth place in the table.
Joel Campbell and Ruben Castro scored the goals for the home side who reach the midway point in a position that would qualify them for next season's Champions League.
Rayo Vallecano's 2-1 win in Bilbao on Friday night has lifted the Madrid based side into a place that would take them into Europe as well. Lass put Rayo ahead early in the second half in San Mames, before Piti scored a penalty which should never have been given for a foul that was committed outside of the home side's penalty area.
Deportivo la Coruna appear to be recovering under new coach Domingos Paciencia and took a battling 1-1 draw away to Real Sociedad. Pizzi put the visitors ahead after 27 minutes, but Carlos Vela curled a fine equalizing goal home on the stroke of halftime.
Valencia are another club who are improving and the 2-0 home win over Sevilla, thanks to two goals from Roberto Soldado, lifts the club to seventh in the league table with a chance of making a push for Europe in the second half of the campaign. Valverde has revitalized the club since replacing Mauricio Pellegrino in December.
Espanyol are also on the up and climbed out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against Celta Vigo, who have dropped close to the bottom three following a bright start to the season.
Sergio Garcia's first half goal gave the points to Javier Aguirre's team, who have only lost once in the league since the Mexican arrived at the club.
Mallorca, however are now in real trouble after a 3-1 win in Valladolid, who had Patrick Ebert - who scored twice and set up Oscar Lopez for his side's remaining goal, to thank for the win.
The goal looked to be heading for a draw after Victor Casadesus cancelled out Ebert's opening goal, but Oscar and Ebert scored two goals in the last two minutes to give Valladolid their first win in five matches.
The round of matches ends on Monday when Getafe entertain third from bottom Granada.
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