Magnificent Messi makes it 301

13:19, 17 Feb 2013

  • Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi's Barcelona team-mates heaped further praise on the forward after he took his goal tally to the club to a staggering 301 with a double against Granada.

The Argentinian made it 37 goals in 24 Primera Division games this season as Barca came from behind to win 2-1.

The equaliser was a tap-in, with the winner a curling 25-yard free-kick.

Defender Jordi Alba said there are no words to describe Messi's achievements.

"Messi decided the match," he said on the Barcelona website. "301 goals for Messi, whatever anyone says will come up short."

Midfielder Sergio Busquets added: "He improves on a daily basis, he's the best in the world."

Dani Alves admitted playing alongside Messi made it easier for the other players.

"Playing next to Messi gives you a lot of calm," he said. "It makes it easier to get things done."

Barca assistant coach Jordi Roura, still overseeing first-team affairs with head coach Tito Vilanova undergoing cancer treatment in New York, described his star player's latest feat as "incredible".

But Roura accept that his side did not have things all their own way at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes and had to battle to earn the three points.

"We knew how difficult it is to win in this stadium," he said. "Granada are a very physical side and they had nothing to lose.

"The match became complicated (after they scored) and, once again, (my) players dug deep (to get the result).

"We fought back from behind and the fact that we won three important points makes us happy."

comments powered by Disqus

Related News

  • 19:12, 20 May 2013

    Mourinho to leave Madrid

    Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after the club and the coach agreed to his departure by mutual consent, the club's president Florentino Perez has announced.

  • 10:13, 18 May 2013

    Mourinho: This is my worst season

    Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho remained non-committal about where he will be next term after his side lost 2-1 in the Copa del Rey final against local rivals Atletico Madrid last night to round off the "worst season" of his life.

  • 23:35, 17 May 2013

    Tempers flare in Madrid as Atletico stun rivals Real

    Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 (aet) Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho were sent off as Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid in extra-time at the Bernabeu to overcome their local rivals for the first time in 14 years and lift the Copa del Rey.

  • 07:39, 17 May 2013

    Big names lead tributes to Beckham

    Team-mates, managers, politicians and fans queued up to pay tribute to the retiring David Beckham yesterday, a fitting reaction to the exit of a player who transcended his sport.

Setanta Sports Schedule

On Today

01:00 - 03:00

Inter v Udinese

03:00 - 04:00

Halfords Tour - Durham

04:00 - 06:00

Montpellier v Lille

06:00 - 08:00

St. Etienne v Marseille

08:00 - 10:00

Inter v Udinese

10:00 - 12:00

PSG v Brest

12:00 - 12:30

Arsenal v Man United '99/00

12:30 - 13:00

Serie A Show

13:00 - 14:00

KOTV Classics

14:00 - 16:00

Torino v Catania