Messi! Messi! Messi! That was the name on everyone’s lips as the Barcelona man once again broke another record. This time though, it was Telmo Zarra’s long-standing supposedly unbeatable record that was shattered by the little Argentine. Lionel Messi hit a hattrick in what was meant to be a tough test for Barcelona at the Nou Camp against a Sevilla side enjoying a great season.
Lionel Messi has now scored 253 La liga goals, surpassing the former record of 251 held by Athletic legend Telmo Zarra.
In honour of the great Lionel Messi, we start this week’s team of the round from the attacking positions.
Joining Messi in our team of the round is his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo who also struck twice and grabbed an assist in a spectacular performance on Saturday when Real Madrid defeated new boys Eibar 4-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua
Aritz Aduriz also makes the cut this week after leading a rejuvenated Athletic Bilbao side to a 3-1 win at the San Mames against Espanyol. The 33-year-old was involved in most of the best attacking moves from the Basque side and deservedly ended the night with a goal and an assist.
In midfield, James Rodriguez continued his fantastic start to his Real Madrid career playing a key role as Real Madrid ran over Eibar. The Colombian notched the league leader’s first goal of the game and then claimed the assist for their third which Frenchman Karim Benzema turned in.
Tiago rolled back the years with a massive midfield performance for Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in Saturday’s early game. The 33-year-old who just recently returned to the Portuguese National team ran the show from his midfield position, barely put a foot wrong, scored a goal, and also provided an assist. Super.
Finally in midfield is Levante midfielder Jose Luis Morales who needed just two minutes to score the winner against Valencia after coming on as a substitute.
Mario Gaspar makes his second Team of the Round appearances in as many matches after scoring Villareal’s first (his second in two games) in their 2-1 win against Getafe at the Madrigal.
Xabier Etxeita has become a main stay in the Athletic Bilbao defence these days, and is unarguably why the Basque side have turned around their season and look so formidable in recent games. On Friday night, he was urguably the Man of the Match, putting in a defensive masterpiece in a 3-1 for Valverde’s men over Getafe.
A second Atleti player – Diego Godin – makes the cut after yet again a superb defensive show for El Cholo’s men against a tough Malaga side. The Uruguayan centre back kept the Rojiblancos solid and calm in the rear, and had enough time to notch a headed goal from Tiago’s cross late in the game to seal Atleti’s 3-1 win at the Vicente Calderon.
Real Madrid young full-back Dani Carvajal completes the defence. The 22-year-old was a constant threat to Eibar offensively, and it was no surprise he found himself in the Basque side’s area to deliver an assist to Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid’s second. But he wasn’t found wanting in his primary defensive post as well, making sure Eibar attackers were kept at bay as Real Madrid kept a clean sheet.
And finally in goal is Almeria goalkeeper Rubén Martínez. The 30-year-old simply put, was a rock! He had 11 saves for 10-man Almeria against Granada.
