Messi scores 600th goal as Barca beat Atletico

Sports Desk: A textbook free kick from Lionel Messi produced his 600th career goal. It was his 539th goal for Barcelona to go with 61 for Argentina, reports forbes.com today.

From almost thirty yards out Messi whipped his shot over the Atletico Madrid wall. It then dipped and although Atletico goalkeeper Oblak was able to get a hand to it he could not keep it from hitting the corner of the net.

It was his third free goal directly from a free-kick in Messi's last three appearances for Barcelona.

This one proved to be the only goal of a game that matched top of the league Barcelona with second place Atletico Madrid.

The game was watched 90,356 fans at Camp Nou, the highest attendance of the season.

It was Messi’s 24th goal in La Liga this season to go with 12 assists – both league-leading tallies.

The goal was the least Barcelona deserved after dominating the first half. Atletico provided more resolute opposition in the second half as they took the game to Barcelona.

An advantage in possession of 67% to 33% at halftime was reduced to 58/42 by the end of the game.

With five minutes remaining, Kevin Gameiro scored for Atletico from a Diego Costa knockdown. However, the referee's assistant flagged Costa for offside.

Barcelona went into the leading La Liga by five points over second-place Atletico. However, five games ago the lead was 11 points.

Barcelona had dropped six points with three draws in their last five matches while Atletico Madrid had won all their matches.

The win extends Barcelona’s lead to 8 points with 11 games remaining in La Liga. Real Madrid is third with 54 points, 15 points fewer than Barcelona.


risingbd/Dhaka/March 5, 2018/Nasim