Football: Messi brace gives Barca lead in cup

Barcelona won 2-0 away at Cordoba in their Spanish Cup last-16 first-leg clash.

MADRID: Lionel Messi extended his record for goals scored in a year as the Argentine maestro scored both Barcelona’s goals in their 2-0 win away at Cordoba in their Spanish Cup last-16 first-leg clash.

The 25-year-old three-time Ballon D’Or winner struck his 88th goal of the year – three more than German legend Gerd Mueller – to give the holders a handy advantage to take back to the Camp Nou for the second leg in January.

Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid slipped to a 2-1 defeat away at La Liga strugglers Celta Vigo, though, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal four minutes from time gave them a precious away goal.

While Messi can do no wrong, his compatriot Marcelo Bielsa can do little right as his Athletic Bilbao side exited the competition after loosing on away goals to third-division side Eibar 1-1 in their delayed last 32 second-leg match.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2012.