Messi scores brace as Barcelona rout Eibar

Date

3/7/2016 5:04:48 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Lionel Messi continued his impressive run by scoring two goals in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Eibar on Sunday keeping his team unbeaten and maintaining a comfortable lead entering the final stretch of the Spanish league.

Messi scored with a great run in the 42nd and added a penalty in the 76th giving Barcelona a provisional 11-point advantage over Atletico Madrid who play at Valencia later on Sunday.

Messi has scored 15 goals in the last 10 matches and eight in the past four. Munir El Haddadi opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a cross by Luis Suarez who netted his league-leading 26th goal in the 84th.

It was Barcelona's 11th straight win in the league. The Catalan club haven't lost in 36 consecutive games in all competitions.

Meanwhile Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as a unique talent after he scored four goals in a 7-1 thrashing of Celta Vigo on Saturday night.

Ronaldo had been jeered by a section of Madrid's famously demanding fan base early in the second-half but responded in empathic fashion to move ahead of Telmo Zarra as La Liga's second highest goalscorer of all-time with 252 goals in just 228 games.

'You know Cristiano he is capable of scoring four goals and there are very few people capable of doing that. That is why he is unique' said Zidane.

'It is part of football that the fans whistle now and then.

'They are demanding fans but at the same time they know their players well and always want more. That is good to help us improve and do more. Above all I am left with his performance.'

Ronaldo had been under the spotlight after criticising his teammates as Real's realistic title hopes ended with a 1-0 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Victory cuts Barcelona's lead over Real to nine points but the European champions can reopen a 12-point advantage when they travel to Eibar on Sunday.

In Zidane's six home games since taking charge in January Madrid have now scored 27 times despite failing to find the net against Atletico. Pepe put the hosts in front towards the end of an uneventful first-half. Ronaldo then took over with a stunning strike from 25 yards before curling home a brilliant free-kick for Madrid's third.

Iago Aspas pulled a goal back for Celta before Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a tap in from close range.

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