Messi-led Argentina national team to play in Kerala next year
World Cup-winning Argentinian football team led by iconic Lionel Messi will play in Kochi next year, Kerala State Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced on Wednesday.
Barcelona thrashed Valladolid 5-1 in their Wednesday’s La Liga encounter at Camp Nou, courtesy a brace from Lionel Messi.
Clement Lenglet drew the first blood for Barcelona with a nice volley only in 2nd minute. But Kiko scored the equaliser in the 15th minute after Marc-Andre ter Stegen misplayed a free kick into the box to draw the visiting side level.
Just before the half-hour mark, Arturo Vidal again put the Catalonians in the driving seat, but the Messi show was still awaited.
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However, the wait soon got over and in the 34th minute, the Argentine executed a curling free kick to give Barcelona a 3-1 lead at half-time.
In the 75th minute, Messi fired in Barca’s fourth with a superb turn and finish from an Ivan Rakitic pass, firing a low line drive of a volley past Valladolid keeper Jordi Masip before setting Luis Suarez with another sublime assist in the 77th minute to reach the final scoreline of 5-1.
The victory was the seventh win in a row for Barca, equalling the second-best streak under Ernesto Valverde. And if the team can continue their rampant march with victories in the upcoming fixtures against Levante and Slavia Prague, Ernesto can equal his own record.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Alaves as Lucas Perez’s sublime solo strike in the 83rd minute stopped the visitors temporary moving into top spot in La Liga.
Earlier, Alvaro Morata had scored for the hosts in the 70th minute of the well-balanced game, but Perez’s strike forced the game to end with each side scoring a goal apiece.
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