Barca flex title muscles, extend unbeaten record to 31 games
Lionel Messi scored his 300th La Liga goal as Barcelona took further command of the Spanish title race by defeating Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Wednesday night. The victory extended Barcelona's club record unbeaten run to 31 games.
Messi's milestone came 25 minutes into the match when he drifted past defenders at the top of box and beat Ivan Cuellar with a 22-meter shot into the lower left corner. As is often the case, the situation did not appear particularly ominous for Sporting until the little master shifted into high gear.
Messi went on to collect a brace while Luis Suarez added another after missing a penalty as the Blaugrana moved six points clear of Atletico Madrid atop the La Liga race and increased their lead over third-place Real Madrid to seven points.
WATCH: Lionel Messi reaches new La Liga milestone.
All of the leaders have now played 24 games as this was Barcelona's match-in-hand. The game had been postponed in December when the Catalans traveled to Japan to win the FIFA World Club championship.
Sporting remained 16th in the league only two points above the relegation zone. They haven't defeated Barcelona since 1994 and despite a quick equalizer to Messi's opening goal the hosts didn't look like changing that script on Wednesday.
"I think we are have a really good season in the league," Barca's Aleix Vidal told reporters after the win. "We will not relax"
Wednesday's visit to El Molinon was special for Barcelona boss Luis Enrique who was returning to city and stadium where he attended games as a child and ultimately made his professional debut. His team made certain it would be a happy visit after a first half hiccup.
Messi's first gave gave Barcelona only a temporary lead because a fine run down the left by Alex Menendez produced a far post cross for Carlos Castro to level matters just two minutes after the opening goal. It was a fleeting moment of glory for Sporting as Barcelona was right back ahead four minutes later.
That was thanks to Messi's second, started and finished by the Argentine standout. First he chipped the ball over the defense to Suarez, then he broke deftly between defenders to first-time the return pass from his teammate, hammering the ball to the near top corner in the 31st minute.
The visitors should have made it safe in the 62nd minute, but Ivan Cuellar saved a Suarez spot kick after he had given away the penalty by bringing down Neymar. The penalty was controversial. not because there was any doubt about Cuellar's intervention, but because the home fans thought Gerard Pique fouled before grabbing possession in his own half and releasing the Brazilian with a long ball down the inside left channel.
Suarez atoned for that miss five minutes later when he held the ball in the box at the top right, shook off a defender as he spun to his left, then drove the ball into the far left corner of the net. It was his 40th goal of the season in all competitions.
