Messi scored his first senior goal during Barca’s 2-0 La Liga win over Albacete in May 2005, while he opened his Argentina account in 3-2 friendly defeat to Croatia in March 2006.
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This was of course a side that Barca swept aside under the stewardship of Gary Neville. Shell-shocked Barcelona have 76 points along with Atletico, who knocked the holders out of the Champions League in midweek and remain top only due to a superior head-to-head record.
Any punishment for the Barcelona star could end up costing the club dearly, with just five games to go and one point separating the top three in an unexpectedly tight title run-in.
“We can assess the fixture list now and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid win all their games, and I think Barcelona’s biggest opponents are themselves at the moment. Antonio, for us, is a great defender and yesterday he was ideal and I am happy with his performance”.
Valencia could have won by more goals as they broke on the counter a number of times, especially later in the second half as Barcelona threw caution to the wind and piled players forward. “We just depend on ourselves”. “We have to know how to lose when we lose”.
Defeat by mid-table Valenica consigned the Catalans to their third successive defeat and having enjoyed a nine-point lead over Atletico Madrid, they find themselves level with the side that dumped them out of Europe.
Messi was denied three times in the first half as the home side created a host of chances without taking advantage. “It is a capricious sport that allows you to win without barely attacking”, Enrique told a press conference.
Sunday’s loss kept Granada with 30 points from 33 games, only one point clear of the relegation zone with five rounds to go. The players have taught everyone a lesson about how to approach a game like this. “If we win the five remaining games we will be the champions”, he explained.
They have 40 points from 33 games and is in 12th place.
“I played eight years with Barca, this is my second as a coach, and I have never seen the Camp Nou so behind the team”.
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Messi got his 500th career goal on Sunday but that was his only goal in his last six club games, while Neymar has not found the net in his last five.
