Valverde was forced to bring on Messi after a scoreless first half, having left the Argentine talisman on the bench in preparation for the midweek UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg against Liverpool. The mercurial ‘Messiah’ latched onto an Arturo Vidal through ball, cut back to beat two defenders, and smashed a far post finish to give Barcelona the lead in the 62nd minute.
This was Messi’s 34th La Liga goal this season, ensuring he will will the Pichichi trophy for the top scorer in the league. He is way ahead of the competition with his nearest rival being club mate Luis Suarez with 21 goals. Messi also leads the race in the UEFA Champions League and European Golden Boot scoring charts.
With this victory, Barcelona took an unassailable 9-point lead ahead of closest rivals Atletico Madrid in the La Liga table with only 3 games left in the season. This was Ernesto Valverde’s second consecutive La Liga triumph since his move to the Nou Camp from Athletic Bilbao.
Having won the all important La Liga, Ernesto Valverde’s focus will now move to the midweek Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool. Having already reached the finals of the Copa del Rey where they will face Valencia, Barcelona seem on course for a historic ’treble treble’ i.e the third time the iconic club has achieved a treble of trophies in one European season.
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