Barcelona hammered Sevilla at the Camp Nou on Saturday 5-1 thanks to four second half goals, including Lionel Messi's record setting goal -- one of his three in the half -- that moved him past Telmo Zarra into first place on the all-time list. It's the sixth straight victory for Barca over Sevilla, which ties a winning streak set by the club back in 1975.
Barcelona vs. Sevilla: Final score 5-1, Blaugrana crush Sevilla as Messi sets another record
Lionel Messi passed Telmo Zarra to become the all-time leading scorer in La Liga history in Barca’s win.
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Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 21st minute, firing a free kick from 20-yards out that got up and over the wall before beating Beto into the top left corner. After seemingly being stuck on 250 career league goals for weeks, Messi finally drew even with Telmo Zarra for the all-time record.
Less than three minutes into the second half Sevilla evened up the score thanks to an unfortunate own-goal by Jordi Alba. Vitolo created the trouble by jetting past Gerard Piqué and sending a cross in front of the goal that caught Claudio Bravo and Jeremy Mathieu stuck in no man's land. The ball bounced down, took a funny bounce off Alba and rolled into the empty net.
Barca respond right away, taking the lad back two minutes later. Xavi floated a lovely ball across the area finding Neymar at the far post for a fancy header past Beto to put the home side back in front 2-1.
Ivan Rakitić expanded the lead in the 65th minute, scoring a goal in his first game against his old club. Luis Suárez provided yet another amazing assist, crossing the ball to Rakitić at the far post who directed his header past Beto as the Sevilla keeper desperately tried to get back across.
In the 72nd minute Messi scored his second goal of the game on the counter, playing a one-two with Neymar before toe poking the ball past Beto from close range. The goal was the 252nd of Messi’s La Liga career, making him the all-time leading scorer in the top flight of Spanish football. His teammates celebrated the moment by lifting up the diminutive Argentine and throwing him in the air a couple times.
Messi went ahead and completed the hat trick in the 78th minute just for good measure.
Barcelona: Bravo, Alba (Adriano 78’), Mathieu, Piqué, Alves, Rakitić, Busquets, Xavi (Rafinha 77’), Neymar, Messi, Suárez (Pedro 74’)
Goals: Messi (21’, 72’, 78’), Neymar (49’), Rakitić (65’)
Sevilla: Beto, Coke, Pareja, Carriço, Figueiras, Banega, Krychowiak, Vidal (Deulofeu 61’), Suárez (Gameiro 61’), Vitolo, Bacca (Aspas 75’)
Goals: Alba (47’ o.g.)
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