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Lionel Messi and the entire Barcelona squad were in good form on Saturday as they faced a first-class Sevilla. At the heart of Barcelona's formidable display was Lionel Messi who scored a goal and provided the assist for Ousmane Dembele's goal to make it 0-2 for Barcelona. Messi has now scored 38 goals against Sevilla, six more than he has scored against any other side. He has also achieved his best scoring streak in two years, netting in eight La Liga games in a row - a total of 12 goals during these matches. Barcelona are now within one point of Diego Simeone's men, though the latter have two games in hand. Barcelona's victory brings an end to Sevilla's 10-game winning run in domestic competitions. Barcelona face Sevilla again on Wednesday, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. "If we can overturn the tie on Wednesday, our entire season turns around," Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. "After playing like this at Sevilla, not givi...

It was a comfortable La Liga win for Barcelona as they defeated Elche 3 - 0 with second half goals from Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba - a brace from Messi and one goal from Jordi Alba. Messi notched in Martin Braithwaite's backheel into the bottom corner of the Elche goalkeeper's net in the 48th minute, and scored his second 20 minutes later - he picked up a pass from Frenkie de Jong, and fended off a few defenders before scoring. Jordi Alba scored Barcelona's third in the 73rd minute, set up by Braithwaite and Messi. Barcelona lay Sevilla on Saturday - a La Liga fixture, then next Wednesday at Camp Nou in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. It will be an uphill task for the Catalans as they already lost the first leg 2-0 away. Barcelona are third in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid - 55, 52 and 50 points respectively, albeit Atletico still have a game in hand. Messi's brace has taken him to the top of the La Liga scoring chart, with two goal...

23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen star Leon Bailey has expressed his opinion on the age-long Ronaldo-Messi debate. He told ESPN: "I think he [Messi] has been at one club for too long. "The big difference between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi is Cristiano Ronaldo has done great things in different teams and that's what makes him great. "Obviously they are two great players but Ronaldo will always have that upper hand." Bailey believes Messi is more talented but votes Ronaldo as being more successful. "I believe Messi is more talented when it comes to [pure] talent than Cristiano," Bailey explained. "But when it comes to more success, I would give that to Ronaldo 100 times." 36-year-old Ronaldo has won the Champions League 5 times, and Messi - four. But Messi has won more league campaigns on the other hand: 10 La Liga triumphs compared to Ronaldo's seven league titles. In terms of Ballon d'Or awards, Messi has six and Ronaldo, fi...

For the third time in LaLiga Santander this season, Lionel Messi has had a goal disallowed by VAR in Saturday's Barcelona vs Alaves La Liga fixture. His first-half goal - a shot he tucked home from Antoine Griezmann's deflected shot - was ruled out by VAR, as they deemed Griezmann was slightly offside during the move. As of now, no player has had more goals disallowed by VAR than Messi this season. That did not stop Messi from scoring a brace - both sublime goals, with one scored 25-yards away from goal - and providing an assist in Barcelona's 5-1 undoing of Alaves. He also matched two important records - he equaled Barcelona legend Xavi for most league games played for Barcelona, and has matched Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of 573 goals scored from open play - doing so in two fewer years and 145 games less.  

The fourth presidential impeachment trial in American history is over. Former US President Donald Trump was on Saturday February 13, acquitted for his alleged role of inciting the Jan 6 deadly riot at the US Capitol. His acquittal comes exactly one month and a week after the attack on the Capitol. More senators voted to convict Trump, but failed to reach the majority threshold of two-thirds necessary to convict; the vote fell 10 short, the final vote being 57-43.  Seven Republican senators -  Senators Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania - joined the Dems to vote Trump guilty of "incitement of insurrection". "This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country. No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million ...

Messi and a couple of first-team regulars did not feature in the starting XI for the Barcelona vs Real Betis clash, with a Copa del Rey semi-final against Sevilla due Wednesday, and the first leg of their Champions League clash with PSG eight days away. In-form Griezmann however debuted, but Barcelona trailed Real Betis 0-1 by the end of the first half. Barcelona did not register a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes of play. In the 56th minute, Koeman brought Messi in, who scored two minutes later to level the game. A Victor Ruiz own goal later put Barcelona ahead. But it was Trincao's curled strike that sealed the win for Barcelona. This victory places Barcelona 7 points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid, who have two games in hand.