Lionel Messi’s dead-ball hat-trick puts Barca back on top

Lionel Messi delivered an incredible dead-ball hat-trick on Saturday to steer Barcelona to a 4-1 victory over Celta Vigo and ease the pressure on his coach Ernesto Valverde.

Messi scored with a penalty and then a pair of sumptuous free-kicks either side of half-time after Lucas Olaza had briefly pulled Celta level with a free-kick of his own at Camp Nou. Sergio Busquets drove home to make sure of the win late on.


A 34th treble in La Liga puts Messi equal with Cristiano Ronaldo, while a much-needed win sends Barca above Real Madrid on goal difference and back to the top of the table at the end of a testing week.

“It is impossible not to depend on Messi, he illuminates everything,” said Valverde. “We depend on him like any team would depend on him. He unlocked the game.”

Madrid had briefly claimed first place after continuing their own goal-surge by hammering Eibar 4-0, a game in which Karim Benzema scored twice and Eden Hazard exploded into life.

But while Madrid appear to be hitting their stride, Barcelona’s momentum had stalled. After losing to Levante and failing to break down Slavia Prague in the Champions League, scrutiny had again turned on Valverde and his future as Barcelona coach.


Barcelona’s disgruntled fans had whistled their team against Slavia in midweek and when Olaza equalised for Celta, that tension and restlessness threatened to return.

Instead, Messi took command, this hat-trick taking his tally to nine goals in seven games, 612 in total for his club.

“Obviously when it’s tight we have the advantage of having the best player in the world and the best free-kick taker in the world,” said Busquets.

Yet his precision from free-kicks is a skill the 32-year-old has worked on and improved in recent years, his conversion rate currently at four goals from his last seven attempts in the league.

The last time a player scored a hat-trick from set-pieces in La Liga was when Messi himself achieved the same feat in 2012 against Espanyol, albeit with two penalties and one free-kick.

There was good news for Barcelona too in the return of Luis Suarez, who came off the bench after recovering from a calf strain.

Messi scored his penalty in the 23rd minute after Joseph Aidoo had blocked Nelson Semedo’s cross with his hand.



It was Messi that conceded the foul for Olaza’s curling free-kick that was well-hit enough to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen, even if the goalkeeper might have been disappointed not to be able to get across.

There was little Celta keeper Ruben Blanco could do about Messi’s efforts, the first in stoppage time before the interval and the second three minutes after the restart.

They were almost carbon copies of each other, bending over the wall and nestling in the top right-hand corner.

Celta, under their new coach Oscar Garcia, never looked like mounting a comeback and Busquets put the result beyond doubt with a low shot five minutes from the finish.

Real’s players might have been watching on their way home from Ipurua, where they went three up inside 29 minutes, Sergio Ramos scoring a penalty between two Benzema strikes, the second also a spot-kick after Ramos delegated to his teammate. Fede Valverde added a fourth in the second half.

Benzema’s double takes him to 157 goals for Real Madrid, above Ferenc Puskas into sixth in the club’s all-time list, but his excellent display was trumped by a creative masterclass from Hazard.

“His first half was very impressive,” said coach Zinedine Zidane. “We are happy and he will be a huge player for Madrid, for sure.”

Hazard’s vintage performance


Benzema latched onto Hazard’s pass in the 17th minute and after Valverde and Luka Modric missed, the ball spilled back to the Frenchman, who found the corner from an acute angle.

Three minutes later it was two, Hazard the creator again, his feet too quick for Pablo De Blasis, who caught his opponent’s right leg. Ramos slid the penalty home.

Hazard sparkled, with a brilliant nutmeg, a ‘rabona’ cross and too many glides past defenders to count.

Ramos passed on the second Madrid penalty, awarded for a foul on Lucas Vazquez, to allow Benzema to make it three before Valverde had added a fourth, cracking in Modric’s pass for his first goal in La Liga.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Lionel Messi suspended from Argentina for 3 months for corruption comments

ASUNCION, Paraguay — Football body CONMEBOL suspended Lionel Messi from international matches with Argentina for three months because of accusations of corruption he made at the latest Copa América.

The South American body also said Friday that it fined the superstar in $50,000 for his comments after Argentina’s 2-1 win against Chile in the third-place playoff of the tournament in July.

Messi and Argentina can still appeal the decision, which stops the striker from playing in four friendlies this year.

The 32-year-old will not play for Argentina matches in September against Chile and Mexico, plus another two in October versus Germany and another adversary to be picked.

Neither Messi nor Argentina’s football association have made comments about CONMEBOL’s decision.

Messi is already suspended from the first match of the South American World Cup qualifiers next March because of the apparently undeserved red card he received against Chile.


The Argentine was sent off for only the second time in his career after a shoving match with Chile midfielder Gary Medel, who also was ejected.


Messi avoided the medal ceremony in protest and later said Argentina “shouldn’t take part in this corruption.”

The Argentinian also said the tournament was set for hosts Brazil to win.

Messi had already complained against Copa América refereeing after Argentina’s 2-0 loss to Brazil in the semifinals.

When asked if he feared being suspended for his comments, he said “the truth needed to be told.” Messi later sent an apology to CONMEBOL for his remarks.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Lionel Messi has injury scare after scoring 2 goals in Barcelona draw

BARCELONA, Spain — Nothing can silence the Camp Nou crowd like the thought of an injury to Lionel Messi — especially four days before a clash against Real Madrid.

So a chill ran through Barcelona’s supporters during the Spanish league match against Valencia on Saturday when Messi sat down on the sideline, his right leg stretched before him, and received a massage from a team trainer.

Little did it matter that the team’s all-time leading scorer had just struck two goals to lead Barcelona back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw. Any hint of Messi being sidelined with the season entering its critical phase with titles on the line immediately overshadowed yet another outstanding performance by the Argentine.

Messi may have been hurt when Valencia defender Antonio Lato ran into him.

The scare comes before Barcelona hosts Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.

“Please don’t let it be anything serious,” Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena said. “We hope he will be back in full form on Wednesday.”

Coach Ernesto Valverde said Messi was undergoing medical exams.

“He is bothered by something, but we will have to wait to see what the doctors say,” Valverde said. “I imagine that it is not that bad.”

Messi missed Barcelona’s first clasico against Madrid in October due to a broken right arm. His teammates did fine without him, routing their fierce rival 5-1 and sealing the fate of coach Julen Lopetegui.

Madrid, however, is playing much better now. It has won four straight before hosting Alaves on Sunday.

Before his fitness put a damper on a thrilling match, Messi extended his scoring run to nine straight games across all competitions. His double took his league-leading tally to 21 goals in 22 rounds.

Barcelona’s winning streak in la Liga ended at eight matches in a row. It leads second-placed Atletico Madrid by six points before its closest title rival visits Real Betis on Sunday.

TRADING BLOWS

Valencia took advantage of Sergi Roberto playing out of position as a fill-in left back for Jordi Alba. Daniel Wass led several attacks from Roberto’s side, starting with a pass for Dani Parejo to test Marc-Andre ter Stegen before Denis Chershev put the rebound off the post.

Parejo started a move that produced Kevin Gameiro’s opener in the 24th minute when he tackled Messi. That sprung a counterattack led by Rodrigo Moreno, who slipped a pass forward to set up Gameiro.

Parejo doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after Roberto knocked down Wass trying to dispute a cross.

Valencia lost Gameiro to injury shortly after when the striker asked to be substituted after being shaken up when he knocked heads with Gerard Pique.

Messi got his first goal from the penalty spot in the 39th after Nelson Semedo was fouled by Lato.

Messi struck again in the 64th when Arturo Vidal laid the ball off for him on the edge of the area. Messi quickly unleashed a curling, left-foot strike around two defenders, who impeded goalie Neto from seeing the ball until it was too late to react.

“We played at a good pace, counterattacked well, scored twice and could have scored more,” Parejo said. “The team’s performance was magnificent.”

SEVILLE SLIDE 



Celta Vigo broke a five-match losing streak and escaped the relegation zone by beating Sevilla 1-0 at home thanks to Okay Yokuslu’s second-half goal.

Fourth-place Sevilla has won only one of its last six league games.

BASQUE DERBY

Real Sociedad defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 to deal its northern Basque Country rival its first defeat since the arrival of coach Gaizka Garitano.

Garitano had kept Bilbao unbeaten through seven league games since replacing Eduardo Berizzo in December.

FAN VIOLENCE

Getafe’s 0-0 draw at Levante was marred by 11 Getafe fans being arrested for provoking a clash with rival supporters outside the stadium in Valencia.

Getafe, which condemned the violence, rose to fifth as the small Madrid-based club continued its impressive season on the field.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi a man on a mission in the Champions League

BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi looked every bit a man on a mission.

Messi started the Champions League in brilliant fashion Tuesday night, setting a record with his eighth hat trick in the competition to lead Barcelona to a 4-0 rout of PSV Eindhoven.

The outstanding performance was the first step toward Messi keeping his promise that the season would end with Barcelona lifting another European Cup.

Barcelona’s otherwise excellent 2017-18 campaign that ended with the Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles had one blemish: a shock 3-0 loss at Roma in the Champions League that squandered a 4-1 first-leg victory and meant elimination in the quarterfinals.

That made it three years in a row that Barcelona has been ousted in the quarterfinals of a tournament that Messi has helped it win four times, but not since 2015. Meanwhile, Barcelona has had to endure rival Real Madrid winning it three times in a row.

With that loss to Roma in April still hanging over the club, Messi addressed Barcelona’s fans at Camp Nou before the club’s traditional exhibition match to kick off the new season.

“If last season was very good with the Copa and La Liga, we all still feel bad about our exit from the Champions League and how it happened,” Messi told Barcelona’s supporters in August. “Today we promise to do everything we can to bring that beautiful and coveted cup once again to this stadium.”

Long after establishing himself as the club’s all-time leading scorer, Messi has finally taken on the role of undisputed team leader after inheriting the captain’s armband from Andres Iniesta.

That meant shedding his reticence to talk in public. And when he spoke out, he set the bar as high as possible.

Messi backed up his words against PSV to ensure Barcelona made a strong start in a tough Group B that also includes Tottenham and Inter Milan.

Now 31, Messi also knows that his best chances to win the World Cup are most likely behind him after another disappointment with Argentina this summer, meaning his final place in football history will likely depend on sustained excellence at Barcelona.

Messi’s first goal against PSV was a beauty as he used his left foot to lift a free kick over the wall and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet. He netted two more goals from passes by Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.

“(Messi) takes extraordinary things and makes them routine,” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said. “The free kick got us going. It was a majestic strike . I have never seen anything like him in my career. We have to pinch ourselves to realize that we are seeing a player that is one-of-a-kind.”

Messi’s first was his eighth goal from a free kick so far in 2018.

Rakitic said that when Messi steps up to take a free kick, “often times, you’re already thinking about where to celebrate it.”

Messi has scored twice from free kicks in six matches this season. He unlocked the Alaves defense to start a 3-0 win in the opening round of the Spanish league.

Barcelona will seek to keep its lead of the Spanish league and get a fifth win in as many rounds when it hosts Girona on Sunday. Messi will also be aiming to increase his tally of seven goals in six matches across all competitions.

Last season, Messi added to Barcelona’s 6-1 demolition of Girona by slotting a free kick under the defensive wall. He repeated that same trick to score against Alaves last month.

PSV coach Mark van Bommel, a former Barcelona player, tried to take away that option for Messi by ordering a player to get on his knees behind the defensive barrier to block a low strike. Messi clipped it over their heads instead.

“He put it right in the corner of the goal frame,” van Bommel said. “Technically, Messi is the best player in the world.”

Barcelona will have to wait three weeks before its next Champions League match, when it visits Tottenham in London.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi nets 2 as Barca beats Celta 5-0 to reach Copa quarters

BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi scored twice in the space of three minutes to help Barcelona to a 5-0 win over Celta Vigo on Thursday as the holders advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.

Messi, who also created Barcelona’s third goal for Jordi Alba, set his team on its way to a 6-1 aggregate victory with his 21st and 22nd goals in all competitions this season.

Alba had provided the assists for Messi’s strikes in the 13th and 15th minutes, and the Barcelona star returned the favor by setting up the left back to score in the 28th.

Luis Suarez made it 4-0 before halftime, while Messi was replaced by Ousmane Dembele before the hour mark. Ivan Rakitic headed in a corner kick by Dembele in the final minutes to complete the rout.

New signing Philippe Coutinho watched from the Camp Nou stands following his club-record transfer from Liverpool earlier this week. The Brazil midfielder will make his debut after he recovers from a right leg muscle injury.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde took no chances after the 1-1 draw in the first leg, starting Messi in his first appearance in the competition this season after resting the Argentina forward for the first three cup games.

Messi quickly quashed any chance of Celta springing an upset.

Barcelona’s all-time scoring leader swept Alba’s cross past Sergio Alvarez despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball, and he followed up by firing home after another exchange of passes with Alba.

Messi then turned provider, lobbing a perfect pass behind Celta’s back line to meet the run by Alba, who chipped Alvarez to score.

“The connection between Messi and Alba is nothing new, it has been working for years,” Valverde said. “They look for each other and are happy to do so, because it is not just Alba assisting Messi. Messi also creates goals for Alba.”

Suarez netted in the 31st after pouncing on a poor pass by Pione Sisto, before Rakitic nodded home at the end.

Barcelona extended its unbeaten run this season to 28 straight matches, dating back to its losses to Real Madrid in both legs of the Spanish Super Cup in August.

Celta had drawn 2-2 at Barcelona in La Liga last month and had gone into Thursday’s match after holding Madrid to a 2-2 draw in the league last weekend.

SEVILLA ADVANCES 

Sevilla beat Cadiz 2-1 with goals from Wissam Ben Yedder and Joaquin Correa to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Making the last eight will take some of the pressure off new coach Vincenzo Montella following Sevilla’s painful 5-3 home loss to crosstown rival Real Betis in his Spanish league debut on Saturday.

Ben Yedder scored from a rebound after a shot by Correa to give Sevilla the lead in the 32nd. Correa then headed in from a corner taken by Pablo Sarabia in the 54th.

Alvaro Garcia got second-division Cadiz’s consolation goal in the 86th, leading to jeers from Sevilla’s home fans for the team’s shaky finish to the match.

“It was a complicated match. We are all suffering from the derby loss,” Correa said. “We are sad, but we will get through this together.”


ESPANYOL COMEBACK 

Goals by forwards Leo Baptistao and Gerard Moreno helped Espanyol to a 2-0 victory at Levante, sending the Barcelona-based team through 3-2 on aggregate.

Moreno set up Baptistao in the 14th minute, before scoring his goal in the 34th.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi staying with Barcelona to 2021 after new contract

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona enjoyed a big win on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) without even playing.

Lionel Messi finally put Barcelona and its fans at ease by signing a new contract that will keep the Argentine forward at the Spanish club through 2021 when he will be 34.

“The club … is my home,” Messi said. “My dream was to finish my career at Barca and we are moving down that path.”

The club did not reveal many financial details, including Messi’s salary. According to El Mundo newspaper, Messi will receive 30 million euros ($35.8 million) per season along with a signing bonus of 50 million euros ($59.6 million).

With his former contract set to run out next summer, Messi would have been free to listen to offers from other teams on Jan. 1. That approaching deadline generated speculation Messi could follow Neymar’s lead and leave.

Messi’s new deal includes a buyout clause of 700 million euros ($835 million). The massive figure is aimed at keeping away even the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, which secured Neymar in the offseason by triggering his buyout clause with a record 222 million euros ($262 million) payout.

Club president Josep Bartomeu said Barcelona and Messi already agreed to a new deal in June, but that following Neymar’s departure they revised it to more than double the buyout clause. It was originally set at 300 million euros ($358 million).

Bartomeu said the new contract “is more in line with the current situation in the ever-changing world of football.”

Barcelona announced in July that Messi agreed to a new deal that it would make official “in the coming weeks.” The wait that turned into months eventually caused many Barcelona supporters to fear the worst.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said having Messi signed up for four more years should help the team focus on its strong Spanish league and Champions League campaigns this season. Barcelona visits second-place Valencia on Sunday seeking a win that would give it a commanding lead as it tries to retake the Liga title from Real Madrid.

“I am not an expert in contract clauses, but if we look at what happened with Neymar, then you have the answer,” Valverde said. “The renewal of Leo is great news for the club. It calms everything down, especially all that surround the team. We already were calm because we see him train every day and we see his commitment to the club.”

Messi has been the heart and soul of Barcelona for more than a decade.

A five-time world player of the year, Messi has helped Barcelona win 30 titles since he arrived from Argentina at age 13. That haul includes four Champions Leagues and eight Spanish leagues.

Now in his 14th season, Messi is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 523 in 602 matches.

He received his fourth Golden Shoe award on Friday for leading all of Europe’s leagues in scoring last season.

“The objective is to continue achieving things, fill the club’s trophy cases, and keep making history at Barca,” Messi said. “We’ve been lucky enough to have won a great many things and I hope there will be more in the future.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Football, showbiz stars set for Messi’s wedding

Football and showbiz stars gather in northern Argentina on Friday for Latin America’s celebrity wedding bash of the decade when Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi marries his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo.

Pop star Shakira and her husband, Messi’s teammate Gerard Pique, are expected among the 260 guests, according to media and locals close to the event.

They will join old friends of the couple and footballers such as his Barcelona strike partners Luis Suarez and Neymar.

The party at a casino in his hometown Rosario will be a respite for the player from his legal woes. A Spanish court last month rejected his appeal against a conviction for tax fraud.

All-star guest list

Brunette bride Roccuzzo, 29, will wear a dress by Spanish designer Rosa Clara, which has been flown over from Barcelona.

The designer has dressed stars such as actresses Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara as well as Spain’s Queen Letizia.

From 2200 GMT the guests will pack into the Hotel City-Center Casino, which stands right next to a crime-ridden slum run by drug gangs.

“Messi’s wedding accentuates the sense of inequality that is symbolized by the casino in that neighborhood,” said Carlos del Frade, author of several books on the drug trade in Rosario.

This city of 1.2 million people is also a cradle of footballing talent, however.

“Rosario lives and breathes football. That is another reason Lionel feels so comfortable here,” the city’s mayor, Monica Fein, told AFP.

“I think he is excited that through his wedding his friends (from abroad) will be able to get to know the city he loves so much.”

Local delicacies

The civil wedding ceremony and party will all take place inside the venue, and the guests will be lodged there too.

Messi, 30 — considered a man of few words — has reportedly asked chefs to cook local delicacies such as “locro” stew and “empanada” pasties for the feast.

The star dish is a typical Argentine beef roast including chitterlings, gizzards and kidneys.

Uruguayan pop bands Rombai and Marama plus singer Karina, wife of Argentina footballer Sergio Aguero, will perform at the dance.

It is not known whether the guests will also get a song from Shakira, the Colombian diva famous for “Whenever, Wherever.”

Tight security and media scrum

Some 155 journalists have been accredited to cover the bash, but have been warned they will have no access to the guests.

Security will be handled by a private team of Israeli specialists used by Messi for all his excursions.

“In Lionel Messi’s case, he’s widely accepted by the people at all levels,” said Diego Manso, a local private security consultant.

“All the same, the security systems will never overlook the probability of a lot of people wanting to approach him, wanting to touch him, take photos with him, from their risk analysis.”

Messi and Roccuzzo live in Barcelona where he plays, but still return regularly to Rosario on holiday.

The couple had their two children baptized there last year: Thiago, 4 and one-year-old Mateo, both born in Barcelona.

“It’s no surprise that he is coming back here to get married,” one of the wedding guests, the player’s old school friend Diego Vallejos, told AFP.

“He is an ordinary person who just wants to be near his family and friends. He is a humble person. Money has not changed his personality.”

Messi and Roccuzzo met as children. He moved to Spain when he was 13 to join FC Barcelona. But they kept in touch.

“They are the love of each other’s lives,” says Vallejos.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Barcelona hoping Ramirez can spoil Madrid’s title march

BARCELONA, Spain — A year ago, Sandro Ramirez wasn’t good enough for Barcelona.

Now, the Catalan club is hoping the cast-off forward can upend Real Madrid’s march to the Spanish league title.

For Barcelona to win a third consecutive league title it needs to beat Eibar at home on Sunday and have Malaga defeat Madrid, which enters the final round needing only one point to claim its first title since 2012. And the in-form Ramirez is Malaga’s biggest threat.

Told last May there was no room for him alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, Ramirez could understandably savor Barcelona’s struggles this season. But the 21-year-old Spaniard said he would love nothing more than to give back something to the club that made him into a professional at its “La Masia” academy.

“I really hope I can score a goal and give Barca the league,” Ramirez told BEIN television. “I really hope that this dream comes true. I owe them everything.”

Ramirez left his home in the Canary Islands to join Barcelona’s academy when he was 14. His road wasn’t easy, however. He had to recover from injuries to both knees before he earned his debut with the first team under Barcelona coach Luis Enrique in 2014.

But not even Pedro Rodriguez’s departure for Chelsea opened up consistent playing time. With six goals in two seasons playing limited minutes, Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez decided not to renew Ramirez’s contract last May.

So, for nothing in return, Barcelona let Ramirez walk away while it paid Valencia 30 million euros (then $33.5 million) for striker Paco Alcacer.

“Last season was the most difficult one for me,” Ramirez said. “But you know that the guys in front of you are the best, so I don’t regret anything.”

Ramirez found a spot on Malaga, signing for three seasons. After a slow start, he is finishing the season in spectacular form. Malaga has won six of its last eight matches, with Ramirez scoring seven of his 14 goals this season in those recent victories.

None was bigger than his opening goal in a 2-0 win over Barcelona on April 8 that robbed it of the chance of capitalizing on Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid just hours before.

Ramirez said the goal against his former team “helped vindicate me.”

“I didn’t celebrate it like a goal scored against the best team in the world, but I must give it my all for Malaga,” he said.

Malaga’s surge has come under coach Michel Gonzalez, a former Madrid player who took over in March with the team in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight.

The players responded and reeled off wins over Sevilla, Valencia and Celta Vigo, in addition to the upset of Barcelona, to settle into 11th place.

“From the very first day (Michel) said that I was fundamental for him and that is what a football player needs to hear,” Ramirez said. “Confidence is critical in football. I am ambitious and I know I can give a lot more. We are playing well. It’s my desire to finish this in the best way possible.”

No doubt Barcelona shares that wish as well.

source: sports.inquirer.net

‘Nothing impossible’ for impressed Messi

Five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi paid tribute on Thursday to Barcelona’s sensational Champions League comeback from a 4-0 first leg thrashing to beat Paris Saint Germain 6-1.

Messi scored Barca’s third goal from the penalty spot as the Spanish champions struck three times in the final two minutes plus stoppage time to qualify for the quarter-finals.

“When there’s effort, attitude and desire, NOTHING is impossible,” Messi posted on his official Facebook page.

“Impressive stuff from the team and our fans.”

In a rare sign of exuberance, Messi jumped into the crowd amid delirious scenes when Sergi Roberto grabbed Barca’s sixth and decisive goal in the 95th minute.

And the Argentine was penned in at the Camp Nou as he tried to leave hours after the game.

His partner Antonella Roccuzzo posted a video of the pair attempting to leave the stadium only to be held up by fans banging on the windows to chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Surprising Alaves to take on Barcelona in Copa del Rey final

MADRID — There could hardly be more contrasting teams in the Copa del Rey final.

Alaves, the recently promoted club from Basque Country, will be playing in the final of a major tournament only for the second time in its 96-year history.

Barcelona, on the other hand, will be making its 39th appearance in the Copa final.

Barcelona has won virtually every possible title in the competitions it has played.

Alaves’ only winner’s trophy is for Spain’s second division.

In the final on May 27, Barcelona will field the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Neymar.

Alaves’ top forward is Deyverson, a Brazilian barely known even in his native country.

“This was unthinkable in the beginning of the season,” Alaves coach Mauricio Pellegrino said after their clinching 1-0 home win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday in the semifinals. “We’ll be mobilized for this final.”

The only other time Alaves enjoyed this kind of success was 16 years ago when it reached the final of the UEFA Cup. It lost to Liverpool 5-4 in extra time in a thriller in Dortmund.

It has mostly struggled since then, spending several years out of Spain’s top division. The club, founded in 1921, was promoted to La Liga this season after 10 years in the lower divisions, including four in the third tier.

“After 96 years, to reach the Copa final for the first time, there will be a ’before’ and an ’after’ this achievement,” Alaves president Alfonso Fernandez de Troconiz said. “It’s been an amazing season.”

Barcelona, meanwhile, has been in the Copa del Rey final in seven of the last nine seasons, including the last four. It has won it a record 28 times, including the last two.

But despite the lopsided matchup, there’s reason to believe in an historic result in the final.

Alaves stunned Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou in the Spanish league this season, handing the Catalan club its only home loss with goals by Deyverson and Ibai Gomez.

The teams meet again in the league on Saturday in Basque Country. Barcelona is second in the league with 18 more points than 12th-place Alaves.

Before the league loss, Barcelona had won five straight games between the two sides, including four in the Copa del Rey. It won both games in the last 16 in 2007, and cruised to a 6-1 aggregate win in the early rounds in 2012.

Barcelona has yet to lose a Copa del Rey home-and-away series since coach Luis Enrique took over in 2014, a run of 12 straight triumphs.

It made it to this year’s final by eliminating Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and Atletico Madrid, the latter in the semifinals.

Alaves got past Deportivo La Coruna, second-division club Alcorcon, and Celta, which eliminated Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.

Barcelona is already certain to be without defender Sergi Roberto and striker Luis Suarez, who were sent off on Tuesday in the 1-1 draw against Atletico at Camp Nou. Suarez was handed a two-game suspension on Thursday for refusing to immediately leave the field after being shown the red card.

The venue for the final has yet to be determined, although it will likely be in Madrid.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez hinted on Thursday that the club’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium likely won’t be available because renovation work will be underway during the final.

Last season, officials wanted Barcelona and Sevilla to play the decider at the Bernabeu, but a Bruce Springsteen concert was scheduled for the venue and Madrid avoided having its biggest rival celebrating a title on its grounds. The final was eventually played at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium. –Tales Azzo

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi lifts Argentina, Sanchez saves Chile in World Cup qualifiers

The first four in South American qualifiers have automatic qualifying positions for the next World Cup and the fifth will be in an international playoff for a spot.

The home victory eased some of the pressure on coach Edgardo Bauza, who received the dreaded vote of support from Argentina’s football association during the week.

In Santiago, Alexis Sanchez scored twice after returning from injury to give Chile a 3-1 win over Uruguay. Chile is now fourth, with 20 points, and Uruguay remained second with 23.

Leaders Brazil beat eighth place Peru 2-0 in Lima to move closer to securing a spot at Russia 2018. Teenage striker Gabriel Jesus, who will soon move to Manchester City, scored his fifth goal in six games for the five-time World Cup champions.

Elsewhere, third-placed Ecuador beat bottom-of-the -group Venezuela 3-0 at home and now has 20 points. Venezuela was stuck on five.

Ninth-placed Bolivia had a 1-0 victory over seventh place Paraguay and now has seven points. Paraguay is on 15.

The 13th round of South American World Cup qualifiers will be played in March 2017.

ARGENTINA 3-0 COLOMBIA

Messi opened the score with a perfect free kick to the left of Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, on 9 minutes.

Only 13 minutes later, Messi managed to dribble through the Colombian defense and cross to striker Lucas Pratto, a contentious choice by coach Bauza ahead of Juventus targetman Gonzalo Higuain.

Argentina could have scored many more goals in the second half, with Messi still leading the efforts. The third only came at 83 minutes after the Barcelona star began a play with a backheel kick. Seconds later he stole the ball from a Colombia defender, cut into the penalty area and put in a smooth low cross he found Angel Di Maria, who effortlessly scored.

Colombia’s coach Jose Pekerman said his team clearly felt the absence of two key defenders: suspended Oscar Murillo and injured Yerry Mina.

After the defeat against Brazil, Messi openly said he was disappointed with Argentina’s performance, and used an expletive to say the team needed to improve to qualify for Russia 2018. On Tuesday, with an increased box-to-box awareness throughout the match, Messi led by example rather than words.

Words were also in short supply after the game. On behalf of the whole team, Messi said no players would speak to the press, in response to a wave of criticism in Argentinian media.

CHILE 3-1 URUGUAY

Uruguay scored first against Chile, through South American qualifiers top goalscorer Edinson Cavani, at 16 minutes.

But Chile, the Copa America champions, responded to pull one of their best wins in the tournament so far. That was largely thanks to a superb performance by Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez, who returned from injury, scored a brace and is now just one goal short of Marcelo Salas as the top goalscorer ever for La Roja.

The beginning of the turnaround began with striker Eduardo Vargas nodding a cross from the left to level the score in the dying moments of the first half. At 60 minutes Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to save a powerful shot by Sanchez from the edge of the box. At 75, Sanchez scored again, in a smooth finish in front of Muslera.

Uruguay had a chance to make it 3-2, but Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo stopped a penalty taken by striker Luis Suarez.

Chile and Uruguay will each carry a major problem for their next match in South American qualifiers, which could be critical to both. Chile will not have midfielder Arturo Vidal against Argentina and Uruguay will miss Suarez against Brazil.

PERU 0-2 BRAZIL

Brazil did not need to be at its best in securing a 2-0 victory over Peru in Lima; the sixth in a row for the leaders of the South American qualifiers under new coach Tite.

After a lackluster first half, Brazil went ahead in the 57th minute when Peru’s defense gave the ball away inside the penalty box to 19-year-old Gabriel Jesus, who made an easy and calm finish.

In the 77th minute, the Peruvian defense again was at fault, allowing Jesus to set up midfielder Renato Augusto for another simple finish.

Brazil ends the year with 27 points, which was enough to qualify in other editions of the South American qualifiers. Only months ago it was lagging sixth under previous coach Dunga.

Peru, who started dreaming of going to their first World Cup in 32 years after a 4-1 victory at Paraguay last week, will stay at eighth position with 14 points.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Guardiola leaves Aguero on the bench in loss at Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain — Pep Guardiola’s decision to leave Sergio Aguero out of his Manchester City starting lineup Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) backfired badly in a 4-0 loss at Barcelona in the Champions League.

Premier League-leading City failed to fill the void created by the absence of its top scorer. Barcelona capitalized and seized its opportunities, with Lionel Messi scoring three goals and setting up Neymar for another.

The loss at Camp Nou against Guardiola’s former team exposed two of the manager’s most important decisions as being off the mark.

Aguero’s exclusion was tactical. But another big factor in the loss will revive doubts about getting rid of England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Despite scoring five goals in six Premier League matches and another six goals in Champions League qualifying and group phase matches this season, Aguero watched from the dugout as Barcelona took control of Group C with a commanding victory.

Guardiola instead resorted to a formation he used often at Barcelona, playing without a clear striker and instead aligning Kevin De Bruyne up front as a “false 9″ with wingers Manuel “Nolito” Agudo and Raheem Sterling.

“It was my decision. I wanted more midfielders,” said Guardiola, confirming that Aguero was not troubled by any lingering injuries from recent international duty.

De Bruyne was the only City player to occasionally threaten Barcelona’s goal. His best opportunity came late with Barcelona already three goals clear, but goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen did well to stop him one-on-one.

Another issue highlighted in City’s fourth consecutive game without a win was the poor form of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Bravo, who Guardiola pushed City to sign from Barcelona at the start of the season, was sent off in the 53rd minute after back-to-back errors. Bravo first flubbed a pass right to Barcelona’s Luis Suarez and then used his hands to block his shot while outside the box, earning a red card.

Guardiola acknowledged that the mistake, which occurred when his team was trailing by a goal, crushed any chances of a comeback. Even so, he defended his goalkeeper.

“He knows what he did,” Guardiola said. “He has a lot of experience. He has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the past 10 years. I have no doubts in him.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi Argentina return in doubt, Aguero out injured

Lionel Messi’s return to international duty with Argentina could be delayed by a groin injury his club side Barcelona stated on Monday.

Messi was set to return for the two-time world champions’ World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela after reversing his shock decision to retire from international football in June.

“The player will travel to Argentina to join his national team and the development of the pain (he is suffering) will determine his availability for the scheduled matches,” Barca said in a statement.

Argentina have already suffered a double injury blow as Sergio Aguero and Javier Pastore pulled out of the squad on Monday.

Aguero injured himself in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory against West Ham at the weekend. He has pulled a muscle in his left calf, according to the Argentine federation’s medical staff.

Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking midfielder Pastore also misses out due to a torn right calf muscle.

Messi had announced his international retirement after Argentina lost in the Copa America Centenario final against Chile on penalties, Messi crucially missing his penalty in the shoot out.

It was the third time Messi’s Argentina had lost a major final in three years after a 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Germany in 2014 and another penalty shootout reverse to Chile in the 2015 Copa America.

The five-time World Player of the Year reversed his decision three weeks ago after new Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza payed him a visit in Spain to change his mind.

Argentina host Uruguay in Mendoza on Thursday before travelling to face Venezuela in a second World Cup qualifier on September 6.

Argentina sit third out of 10 teams in South American qualifying after six of 18 rounds of matches. The top four automatically qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi to China? I hope not, says La Liga chief

SINGAPORE—The head of Spain’s La Liga said the cashed-up Chinese Super League wasn’t far from becoming one of the world’s top football competitions — but he hopes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo aren’t headed there just yet.

Speaking in Singapore, La Liga president Javier Tebas also told AFP that he welcomed China’s burgeoning interest in football, which includes investments in Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Espanyol.

Atletico’s Colombian striker Jackson Martinez, signed for 42 million euros ($47 million) by Guangzhou Evergrande, was one of the big signings in China’s lavish spree during the recent transfer window.

But Tebas said he hoped Barcelona and Real Madrid superstars Messi and Ronaldo weren’t about to join China’s growing band of expensive foreign imports.

“You’ll have to ask them that but I certainly hope not,” he said during a visit to Singapore, adding: “There are enough football stars to go around.”

“Even though some improvement is needed at the moment, it’s slowly raising its standard,” Tebas, speaking through a translator, said of the Chinese Super League.

“And in a few years, if the standard is better, it can become among the top in the world. All of us will reap the benefits because it means we can all work together to increase standards.”

A pre-retirement stint would be more likely for Messi and Ronaldo if they were tempted by China, although reports have also linked some of football’s biggest names to CSL clubs.

Model owners

Inspired by a push headed by President Xi Jinping to turn China into a footballing power, Chinese teams have invested heavily in foreign players, often for outlandish sums.


Chinese clubs smashed the Asian transfer record four times as they splashed 331 million euros ($366.8 million) in the January-February transfer window, outstripping the English Premier League.

Chinese businesses have also invested in European football, with one state-backed company taking a $400 million stake in England’s Manchester City.

A Chinese company also sponsors Portugal’s second division, and sparked concern over plans to impose a quota of players from China.

But Tebas said China’s investments in La Liga were a “good opportunity” for Spanish clubs as they raised teams’ profile in the massive Chinese market.

Wanda Group, owned by Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin, has a 20 percent stake in Atletico, and a Chinese model car-maker is the majority owner of Espanyol.

“Because they have an interest in the league, we feel it’s a good opportunity because this helps their investment,” Tebas said.

“It also allows the teams to have an increased profile in China,” he added.

Tebas also said La Liga’s ability to retain key players would depend on its spending power, although he was confident Spanish clubs would remain competitive in the transfer market.

“This is an issue of finance, whether the La Liga is still growing,” he said. “If we continue on that path, and have enough future resources, we will be able to keep our players.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi scores 2 as Barcelona strike force reaches 100 goals

MADRID — Lionel Messi continued his impressive form by scoring two goals in Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Eibar in the Spanish league on Sunday, as the strike force of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar reached a total of 100 goals this season in all competitions.

It was the fourth goal, scored by Suarez after Messi’s earlier brace, which brought up the scoring century, keeping the trio on track to beat the record of 122 set by them last season.

Messi scored with a great run in the 41st and added a penalty in the 76th, leaving Barcelona with an eight-point advantage over Atletico Madrid, which won 3-1 at Valencia to keep pace with 10 games to go.

Real Madrid remained 12 points behind Barcelona after trashing Celta Vigo 7-1 on Saturday with four goals by Cristiano Ronaldo.

“We are where we are thanks to our hard work,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “Now we enter the decisive stages of the season and we are fighting for titles but there are still a lot of points left. There are no guarantees that we will keep playing at this level. We will not get distracted by those saying that we have already won the league.”

Messi is enjoying his best form of the season. The five-time world player of the year has scored 15 goals in the last 10 matches, and eight in the past four, staying on course to win his eighth league title with the Catalan club.

Munir El Haddadi opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a cross by Suarez, who netted his league-leading 26th goal in the 84th.

It was Barcelona’s 11th straight win in the league. It hasn’t lost in 36 consecutive games in all competitions. The last defeat for Enrique’s squad was a 2-1 loss at Sevilla in the seventh round in October.

“Our motivation is to keep this lead until the end and win the title,” Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano said. “We know there is still a lot of league left and any setback could give a chance to our opponents to move closer. It’s a good advantage but we have to keep playing like this and avoid mistakes.”

It was the fourth loss in a row for Eibar, which remains in eighth place in the standings.

Messi netted his 20th league goal with a remarkable run from near midfield that culminated with a low shot into the far corner. The Argentine star cleared two defenders before striking from inside the area.

He calmly converted the penalty kick prompted by a hand ball inside the area, sending his shot into the middle of the goal as the goalkeeper dived away.

Messi had scored a hat trick in the 5-1 rout of Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

Munir, replacing suspended Brazilian striker Neymar, had opened the scoring with an easy goal from close range after a low cross by Suarez.

Suarez scored the fourth goal after sneaking the ball between the legs of a defender and firing a low shot from inside the box. The Uruguay striker hadn’t scored in three matches following a run of seven straight games with at least one goal.

Suarez had missed the last two penalty kicks awarded for Barcelona, which is the team with the most penalty calls in its favor in the league this season with 14.

Suarez, Messi and Neymar scored 122 times last season to surpass the 118 goals netted by Real Madrid strikers Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain in 2011-12.

Atletico Madrid defeated Valencia with goals by French forward Antoine Griezmann in the 24th, substitute striker Fernando Torres in the 72nd and midfielder Yannick Carrasco in the 85th. Russian striker Denis Cheryshev scored Valencia’s goal in the 28th.

Gary Neville’s team was trying to win for the sixth time in seven games in all competitions. It was Valencia’s second consecutive home loss in the league, dropping it to 11th in the standings.

Earlier Sunday, 10-man Real Betis defeated visiting Granada 2-0 to move further from the relegation zone. Betis defender Juan Manuel Vargas was sent off with a second yellow card in the 53rd.

Granada, 18th in the 20-team standings, had to use defender Cristiano Biraghi in goal in second-half injury time. That was after goalkeeper Andres Fernandez got a red card for touching the ball outside the area, a foul that led to Betis’ final goal.

Athletic Bilbao won 2-0 at Sporting Gijon to move to sixth place and leave its opponent second-to-last on the table, while 10th-place Real Sociedad drew last-place Levante 1-1 at home.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi and Co ready to make magic vs Arsenal

LONDON — Barcelona’s strike trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar are ready to weave their magic when the Champions League holders take on Arsenal in the last 16 on Tuesday.

The three forwards share 81 goals from the Spanish league, Copa del Rey, and Champions League this season, and their team heads into the first leg at Emirates Stadium as the clear favorite.

Asked what is involved in coaching such remarkable players, Luis Enrique told a news conference on Monday: “I tell them ‘Abracadabra,’ and the magic sparks, that’s all I do.”

More seriously, he added: “It’s quite simple, in situations of the game, you don’t have to wish what you would like them to do – because they are already doing it. They press, up front, to get the ball from the opponent, and we work hard so that our midfielders can give them the ball. … It’s a pleasure to have these players with me.”

Luis Enrique expects a tight game, but one where Barcelona will look to impose its brand of attacking, possession football.

It’s certainly worked in the past, with the Catalan side beating Arsenal in both of their previous meetings in the knockout stages, along with the final in 2006.

“I’ve seen Arsenal before, and also this season, and they are going to press high at some moments,” he said. “But I hope we can keep possession of the ball in their half of the pitch and put into practice our football. Our target is to win the game, no matter what.”

The key figure in achieving that is likely to be Messi.

Already hugely influential, Luis Enrique believes he is getting even better.

“Last season, he was unbelievable,” the coach said. “He did pretty much everything; he scored, he made a defensive sacrifice, he assisted, and this season he is at the same level or even better. When Lionel Messi goes back to midfield, he becomes the best midfielder, when he plays as a striker he can be a really good scorer, and now he plays on the wing. But he has the freedom to create superiority in certain areas of the pitch. And he’s our leader.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Barcelona sets club record of 29 straight games without loss

MADRID— Barcelona broke the club record with its 29th consecutive unbeaten game when its second-stringers salvaged a 1-1 draw against Valencia in the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.

Barcelona reached its third straight Copa final 8-1 on aggregate after it won the first leg 7-0 at the Camp Nou last week.

Striker Alvaro Negredo gave Valencia the lead in a breakaway before halftime, but Cameroon-born youngster Wilfrid Kaptoum, a member of Barcelona’s B team, equalized in the 84th, two minutes into his senior debut.

Barcelona eclipsed the record it shared with Pep Guardiola’s 2011 squad, despite playing without nearly all of its regular starters at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar. Coach Luis Enrique used youngsters, with Ivan Rakitic the only experienced starter.

“Honestly, the record wasn’t our main goal,” Rakitic said. “We are happy, but the most important thing is to win titles at the end of the season. We would all exchange the record for titles.”

The draw should increase pressure on Valencia coach Gary Neville, the former England defender who has been struggling in his first head-coaching job. He also used second-stringers in his squad, resting some of the starters for the Spanish league game against Espanyol on Saturday.

Barcelona will likely play the final against Sevilla, which holds a four-goal lead over Celta going into Thursday’s second leg in Vigo. It will be Barcelona’s sixth Copa del Rey final in the last eight seasons.

“We are thrilled to make it to another final,” Enrique said. “Our fans are getting spoiled, just look at the number of Copa finals that we’ve played in the last few years. It tells a lot about this club’s capacity to reinvent itself, it tells a lot about the type of players that we have.”

Enrique’s team hasn’t lost since a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla in the seventh round of the Spanish league in October. It was trying to win its 11th in a row on Wednesday.

Guardiola’s steak ended with a 3-1 loss at Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. His team won 23 games and drew five, scoring 85 goals and conceding 14.

Enrique’s squad has won 23 games and drawn six, scoring 87 and conceding 15.

The Barcelona team coached by Rinus Michels and including Johan Cruyff in the 1973-74 season, won 27 straight games.

Negredo opened the scoring after entering the area free from markers. He found the net after his initial shot was partially blocked by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. The late equalizer by the 19-year-old Kaptoum came with a close-range shot after a low cross by Juan Camara.

Valencia had lost three straight games. It hasn’t won in the Spanish league in 12 rounds, nine of those under the command of Neville.

“It’s a small step to try to regain some confidence and keep us in the right direction to turn things around,” Valencia forward Pablo Piatti said. “We are disappointed, the team hasn’t met expectations so far.”

Only about 16,000 fans showed up at the 55,000-seat Mestalla. A supporter held a banner that read: “Bye bye, Neville.”

“I’m thankful for the fans who came to the stadium. Some didn’t want to come and that was their right,” Neville said. “We weren’t playing under the best circumstances after what happened (in the first leg) last week, but the players played with dignity. We deserved to win.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Messi, Neymar to start Club World Cup final

Lionel Messi and Neymar were both named in Barcelona's starting line-up for the Club World Cup final against River Plate on Sunday.

Argentine Messi had been doubtful after missing Thursday's semi-final against Guangzhou Evergrande because of a kidney stone, while Brazilian Neymar had also missed the 3-0 win over the Asian champions through injury.

The pair will lineup alongside Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who scored a hat-trick in the semi-final.

Barcelona are aiming to win the title for the third time and River Plate are hoping to become the first South American side to lift the trophy since Corinthians beat Chelsea in 2012. - Reuters

Messi tips 'fabulous' Neymar as future Ballon d'Or winner

MADRID - Four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi on Thursday hailed his "fabulous" Barcelona team-mate Neymar as a future Ballon d'Or winner.

A year after 22-year-old Neymar's arrival at Barcelona, the two South American stars are becoming increasingly at ease with each other on the pitch.

Their partnership has been one of the keys to La Liga leaders Barcelona's success so far this season with Neymar scoring four of his six goals from Messi passes.

Argentine Messi said his partnership with Neymar was becoming increasingly efficient as he hailed the Brazilian as "a great player".

"It's the second season that we're playing together and we're starting to know each other better," said Messi.

"As well this season the (Barca) strikers play more in the middle of the pitch so we can pick each other out more and find connections. It's a pleasure to play with him ... We've a very good relationship, he's a fabulous boy."

Messi added that their partnership was helped by "the freedom" that coach Luis Enrique gives the Argentine on the pitch.

"The coach told me I could go where I wanted. Sometimes I move back a little to try to make the final pass and to create," explained Messi.

Messi won the Ballon d'Or title four times between 2009 and 2012, but lost his crown last year to Real Madrid's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

But he insisted that thoughts of reclaiming the title were far from his mind.

"I've repeated it several times, I'm not in competition with Cristiano. I play my game, I do my work and I'm not interested in rivalry with him or anyone else.

"Individual awards are those that matter least to me, I want to have a great year and make sure my team achieve their goals."

The Argentine added that he expected Neymar to win the title at some stage in the future.

"He's going to get it, through his qualities, the way he is, I've no doubt that he can at some time win it," said 27-year-old Messi.

"He has great potential, he's a player who has a lot of qualities and he can go as far as he wants. I'm lucky enough to rub shoulders with terrific players on the pitch and he's among them."  — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Where Messi leads, Argentina must follow

PORTO ALEGRE - After underwhelming early performances, traditional Latin American top dogs Argentina and reigning African champions Nigeria have something to prove when they meet in their final World Cup Group F match on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time).

Argentina was among the favorites going in to the tournament but despite a much-vaunted front four, they have yet to come alive, with the exception of some moments of match-winning magic from Lionel Messi.

Nigeria, representing Africa's richest and most populous nation, have also labored to convince as a team.

Nonetheless, Argentina sits atop Group F with six points thanks to their less-than-emphatic wins over Bosnia and Iran.

The Sky Blues have already qualified for the Round of 16 but will still want finish first to ensure an easier opponent - in principle at least - in the next stage.

Nigeria has four points following a dull draw with Iran and a win over first-timers Bosnia. A draw would be enough to ensure qualification but a loss to Argentina could put them in trouble.

Iran, which surprised many with their tenacious, bold play against Argentina, could still seize second place if they beat Bosnia and rack up a better goal difference.

So a game that could see as much anxiety as adventure is on the cards.

Messi's sublime strike against Iran in stoppage time in Belo Horizonte only highlighted the danger of Argentina relying on the Barcelona man too much. It wasn't supposed to be like that.

He and his fellow strikers Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria form what should have been one of the most formidable attack forces in the tournament, but so far it has been rather blunt.

The defense has also looked shaky, with central defender Ezekiel Garay repeatedly caught off guard against Iran.

"We have a few causes for concern," head coach Alejandro Sabella admitted after the close-shave against Iran.

With other Latin American teams such as Chile and previously unheralded Costa Rica powering ahead and delighting fans along the way, Argentina will need to step up the pace if they are to quickly regain what they see as their rightful place at the front.

"We know we are not playing as well as we are expected," Messi said. "But as we go along in the tournament, we will be improving and we will reach our full potential."

Argentina will be able to count on fervent support - tens of thousands of fans are expected to flood over the border into the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, a region which shares its gaucho culture but harbors an intense soccer rivalry.

Nigeria may take heart from the fact that they made a slow start in the African Nations Cup before going on to take the title last year.

The Super Eagles cannot afford to give anything away at the back but will need to hunt for goals if they are to be sure of qualifying for the Round of 16 for the first time since 1998.

Playing in their fifth World Cup, Nigeria's performance against Bosnia was an improvement on the Iran game, when they look bereft of ideas. But their defensive frailties were exposed on several occasions and that could prove fatal with a hungry wolf like Messi on the prowl. - Reuters



FACTBOX: Nigeria v. Argentina

Where: The Beira Rio stadium, Porto Alegre
Capacity: 48,849
When: Wednesday June 25, 1300 local (Thursday, 12am, PHL time)
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

Key stats:
- Argentina has won the World Cup twice, in 1978 and 1986.
- In previous Group F matches, Argentina beat Bosnia 2-1 and Iran 1-0 have already qualified for the Group of 16.
- Nigeria is playing in its fifth World Cup. Its best performances were in 1994 and 1998, when they reached the Round of 16.
- Nigeria drew with Iran in their opening Group F match then beat Bosnia 1-0. They need a point against Argentina to ensure going through in the event that Iran beat Bosnia.
- Nigeria is the reigning African champion.

Previous meetings: The two sides have met six times previously, with Argentina winning four times, Nigeria once, and one match ending in a draw.

source: gmanetwork.com