Football: Barca win but trail Real by 10 points

Messi scores four goals in 5-1 win over Valencia.

MADRID: Lionel Messi was pleased with Barcelona’s superb performance against Valencia in the La Liga as the defending champions thrashed their hapless opponents 5-1.

Messi had a crucial role to play in the victory, scoring four goals, but the champions still remain 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid. However, the Barcelona superstar was happy at the team’s all-round show.

“The most important thing was that we played like we did against Leverkusen when we won 3-1,” said Messi. “There are lots of crucial challenges ahead and it’s necessary to keep going like this.”

Messi, playing his 200th game for the club, took his league goals tally to 27 for the season and 42 in all competitions.

Elsewhere, Levante’s miserable form continued as they lost 5-3 to Rayo Vallecano, while Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting Gijon.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2012.