Lionel Messi was honoured to equal Xavi's record as Barcelona's all-time leading appearance-maker as he inspired the LaLiga challengers to a 4-1 win over Huesca on Monday.
Messi was the star of the show at Camp Nou, scoring two goals and setting up Oscar Mingueza as rock-bottom Huesca struggled to contend with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.
His brace took him to 21 for the season in LaLiga, with 14 of those scored since January 1 – in that time, Messi's 13 goals from open play means he has out-performed his xG value by 6.6.
The first goal of the day secured a slice of history for Messi, who became first player in LaLiga history to net 20 times in 13 successive league campaigns.
Messi also had 124 touches of the ball on Monday, the most he has recorded in a single league game this term, further proof of his exceptional influence.
But the most significant stat of all was the fact Messi was playing his 767th game for Barca across all competitions, bringing him level with club great Xavi – he can set a new record at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Reacting to the achievement after the game, Messi wrote on Instagram: "It is a great honour to reach this number of games played for Barcelona.
"Thanks to all of the colleagues who have accompanied me in these years, and to my family and friends for always being by my side."
This time last year, Pedri was playing in La Segunda with Las Palmas – now he is a regular alongside Messi in the Barca first-team.
Many are tipping the youngster – who earlier on Monday received his first senior Spain call-up – to have a long and illustrious career at the club, and who knows, potentially even get close to 767 of his own Barca appearances.
But for now, he is just relishing seeing Messi in the flesh, soaking it all in as he paid tribute to the Argentinian.
"I enjoy every game and every training session of Messi," he said. "I try to find him because he is the best and he shows it every game.
"Every time he touches the ball something can happen and that is why I look for him. It is crazy what he is achieving - he is the best in the world."
The win over Huesca moved Barca to within four points of leaders Atletico Madrid, who have only won two of their previous five league games.
Barca are now second in the table and have not lost since early December.
Inter Miami 3-1 Philadelphia Union: Messi stars with brace on injury return
Lionel Messi led Inter Miami's comeback, getting a brace and an assist on his return from injury in a 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union.
The Argentine had been out with an ankle injury he sustained in the Copa America final, but he slotted straight back into the line-up after an eight-match absence.
Philadelphia made a dream start against the Eastern Conference leaders, with Mikael Uhre latching onto a loose clearance from Tomas Aviles before coolly slotting in from the edge of the D after just 58 seconds.
Messi got his first goal in the 26th minute, with Luis Suarez cushioning the ball to him before he rounded the defender to level the score.
He then gave Miami the lead just four minutes later – Alba, in acres of space down the left, squared it to Messi for a first-time finish through Jack Elliott's legs.
Suarez thought he had scored a third just after the break with a lovely bending effort into the near post, only to be denied by a tight offside in the build-up.
But he would get his goal in the 98th minute, with Messi unselfishly setting him up instead of going for a hat-trick, and the Uruguayan swept it into the back of the net.
Miami now have a 10-point lead over FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference, while Philadelphia sit in 11th place.
Data Debrief: Back with a bang
Miami have not exactly been missing Messi during his injury absence, with Suarez, who netted his 17th goal of the season this game, picking up the goalscoring mantle in the meantime, but it was a welcome return nonetheless.
The 37-year-old became the fastest player in MLS history to reach 15 goals and 15 assists, doing so in 19 games. Sebastian Giovinco previously held the record (29 matches).
Glenmuir stay perfect in Zone I of daCosta Cup after 2-0 win over neighbours Garvey Maceo
Glenmuir High extended their perfect start to the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Wata daCosta Cup as they blanked neighbours Garvey Maceo 2-0 in a lopsided Zone I affair in May Pen, Clarendon, on Saturday.
Ricardo Binns’ third goal of the season in the 29th and Orel Miller’s seventh of the season in the 40th was enough to seal the three points, which kept Glenmuir atop the standings on maximum nine points.
The defeat, Garvey Maceo’s first of the season, saw them slip to third on six points as Foga Road (seven points) jumped to second after a 6-0 beating of Porus High.
Glenmuir’s Head coach Andrew Peart welcomed the win.
“I am pleased with the win and the maturity shown by the players. For most of them its three years so as they get older, you expect more of them and I thought they showed that. One of the key things for us was not to get the game stretched and I thought we did that well,” Peart said in a post-game interview.
“It is step by step where our title ambitions are concerned; for us, the main thing now is to get out of the group and then we go from there. Yes, we plan long term but we are working short term so its day by day for us right now,” he added.
It was expected to be a close contest between two of last season’s semi-finalists, but Glenmuir had other ideas and should have won by a wider margin.
The Champions Cup holders dominated proceedings from the start as they were enterprising in the attacking third and created numerous chances, though they struggled to apply the finishing touch.
It wasn’t until close to the half-hour mark that they inevitably broke the deadlock from a sustained attacking spell, when Binns headed into an empty net after a decent first touch kept the ball alive ahead of the advancing Garfield Tomlinson in goal for Garvey Maceo.
The lead was doubled 11 minutes later courtesy of Miller, who sidewined his way through four defenders before driving a firm left-footed effort past the hapless Tomlinson to make it 2-0 at the break.
Down, but not out, Garvey Maceo showed more purpose on the attacking front on the resumption and created a few half chances, which amounted to nothing.
From there, the contest offered very little to write home about as Glenmuir showed very little in attack, seemingly content with what they already had, while Garvey Maceo did little to trouble their opponents defensive line.
Garvey Maceo’s head coach Lester Hibbert believes indiscipline led to their demise.
“We gave them instructions to stay with their markers because Glenmuir was doing a lot of movements. When we started the game, we kept them behind the ball but we lost the discipline and conceded two goals, so we just have to brush ourselves off and come again for the next game on Wednesday,” Hibbert said.
Saturday’s results
Vere Technical 0, Kemps Hill 2
Glenmuir 2, Garvey Maceo 0
Foga Road 6, Porus 0
William Knibb 5, Holland 0
Maggotty High 1, Newell 0
Mannings 9, Godfrey Stewart 0
Alston 1, Troy 0
Herbert Morrison 3, St James 0
Anchovy 1, Rusea’s High 0
B.B Coke 1, Munro College 0
Lennon 0, Clarendon College 2
Irwin High 3, Green Pond High 3
Spot Valley 2, Cedric Titus 0
Port Antonio 2, Wycliffe Martin High 0
Grange Hill 1, Black River 2
Maldon 0, Cornwall College 1
'We played two different games' - Maresca hails Chelsea response in Bournemouth win
Enzo Maresca felt Chelsea reaped rewards for "getting your t-shirt dirty", as they snatched a late victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The Blues endured a steady start with their hosts generating the greater attacking threat for most of the contest, with Robert Sanchez keeping out Evanilson's first-half penalty.
Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie also struck the woodwork for the hosts, but substitute Christopher Nkunku landed the decisive blow five minutes from time.
And Maresca was pleased with his side's response to a difficult first-half performance.
"We played two different games," he told Sky Sports. "The first half, we struggled. We didn't win duels; we didn't win second balls. The second half, we were much better.
"We knew before the game that Bournemouth are very high-pressing, man-to-man orientated. We faced a team who are very aggressive, it was more off the ball that we struggled. [The] second half completely changed the picture.
"This is football. Last time against [Crystal] Palace, we completely deserved to win the game. We had chances and we drew. Today, it was there, and, in the end, we won.
"You cannot come here to this stadium and think about winning the game without getting your t-shirt dirty. You need to win duels, you need to fight. If we are able to do this for 95 minutes, you have more chances to win games."
Maresca handed a debut to new signing Jadon Sancho, who was introduced as a half-time substitute before providing the assist for Nkunku's winner.
And the Manchester United loanee lifted the lid on how he is finding life since his switch to Stamford Bridge.
"It's amazing to make my debut for Chelsea," he told Sky Sports. "Just being back playing, I'm very grateful. The team played very well; we dug in to the end and got the three points.
"I've been working hard for this moment, and I'm happy I got my chance. Going into this season, I wanted to have a good start, and I'm happy.
"I have to say thank you to the staff and teammates. The first day I came in, they made me feel welcome and comfortable."
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