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Messi scores twice as Barcelona beat Espanyol

Lionel Messi scored twice in the second half, including a chipped free-kick, as Barcelona beat Espanyol to keep their 10 point lead at the top of La Liga.

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Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 2-0 win against Espanyol
Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 2-0 win against Espanyol
Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 2-0 win against Espanyol

Lionel Messi scored twice in the second half, including a chipped free-kick, as Barcelona beat Espanyol to keep their 10 point lead at the top of La Liga.

Messi dinked his first goal from the edge of the box, with Espanyol defender Victor Sanchez failing to head clear as he ran back towards the goal-line.

The Argentine finished off a counter-attack late on to take his tally to 31 goals for the season.

Second-placed Atletico Madrid thrashed Alaves 4-0 later on Saturday.

Saul Niguez and Diego Costa scored in the first-half and Alvaro Morata and Thomas Partey added two more in the second for a comfortable victory for Diego Simeone’s side.

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Messi has scored 22 goals in his last 15 La Liga games, while he has also surpassed 40 goals in a season for the 10th successive time.

READ: Why I declined Barcelona’s offer – Odion Ighalo

He had been an injury doubt for the game after missing Argentina’s friendly with Morocco in mid-week, but showed no ill-effects when he had Barca’s first chance of the game, only to see his shot deflected over the crossbar.

Barca – who face Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals – dominated the first half, with Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez both going close to breaking the deadlock, and it wasn’t until the second half that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was first troubled, by Oscar Melendo.

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Messi’s opener saw Espanyol’ Sanchez substituted soon after, before he sealed all three points by slotting home a Malcom cross.

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