La Liga wrap, Sunday; Messi makes history


Lionel Messi made history on Sunday (September 27) as he inspired FC Barcelona to a resounding 4-0 victory over Villarreal at Camp Nou. Youngster, Ansu Fati was the star attraction with two expertly taken goals for the Blaugrana and the Spanish international also won a penalty which was coolly dispatched by La Pulga.

The penalty scored by Messi meant that the Argentine international has now scored in 17 successive LaLiga seasons. This makes him just the fourth player to ever achieve the feat.

Real Madrid greats Santillana and Sergio Ramos – who scored against Real Betis on Saturday – both netted in 17 consecutive LaLiga campaigns, with the former doing so between 1971 and 1988. The only player to have scored in more successive LaLiga seasons is Agustin Gainza, who reached 19 straight campaigns for Athletic Bilbao from 1940 to 1959.

Former FC Barcelona forward Luis Suarez marked his debut for Atletico Madrid with a brace in the 6-1 victory over Granada at the Wanda Metropolitano while Valladolid and Celta Vigo settled for a 1-1 result at Estadio José Zorrilla.

Sunday’s early kickoff was a memorable one for Levante as they recorded a 3-1 victory over Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar courtesy of goals from Gonzalo Melero, Roger and Jose Luis Morales with Roberto Torres’s opener for the hosts proving to be nothing more than scant consolation.

Unai Lopez bagged a brace for Athletic Bilbao as the Basque club won 2-1 at Eibar at Municipal de Ipurua and Ivan Rakitic netted on his return to Sevilla as they beat Cadiz 3-1 at Estadio Ramon de Carranza.