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Lionel Messi made it 20 assists for the season in Barcelona’s stodgy 1-Zero win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, at the same time as his staff’s La Liga problem seems nearly over. Messi teed up Arturo Vidal’s winner at Jose Zorilla to turn into the primary participant to supply 20 assists in Spain’s high flight since Xavi Hernandez in 2009. Victory for Barca means Real Madrid can not clinch the title on Monday by beating Granada however solely an unbelievable collapse will stop them placing their identify on the trophy later within the week.
If they beat Granada, Madrid will win La Liga by prevailing at house to Villarreal on Thursday, no matter Barcelona’s outcomes.
Overall, Madrid want solely 5 factors from their remaining three matches to safe their third La Liga title in eight years.
“We are doing things that deserve more than where we are,” mentioned Barca coach Quique Setien.
“To win La Liga, I don’t know, because our rival is winning everything.”
Yet at the same time as Barca’s turbulent home marketing campaign attracts to an in depth, Lionel Messi continues to shine.
His pleasant go for Vidal within the 15th minute, a scoop between two Valladolid defenders, triggered extra exceptional milestones.
As properly as matching the very best La Liga whole for assists by one participant within the final 11 years, Messi extends his personal career-best variety of assists in a single league season.
‘Not rocket science’
He additionally turns into solely the second participant within the 21st century from the 5 main European leagues to hit 20 targets and 20 assists in the identical marketing campaign, after Thierry Henry in 2002-03.
Messi has halted negotiations to increase his present contract, which expires in 2021, maybe to precise frustration with the working of the membership.
As Barcelona’s title problem has wilted, Setien’s place has come below scrutiny too, regardless of him solely taking up in January.
But he was daring in opposition to Valladolid, deploying a 3-5-2 formation, with Nelson Semedo and Jordi Alba as wing-backs and the versatile Sergi Roberto dropping into the again three.
Luis Suarez began on the bench however changed Antoine Griezmann at half-time, the Frenchman enduring one among his quieter shows earlier than having to go off injured.
“He came off because he had a problem,” Setien mentioned. “It was him who asked for the change.”
After enjoying Messi behind Suarez and Griezmann in opposition to Villarreal on Sunday, Setien seems to be experimenting, maybe with an eye fixed on the Champions League’s resumption subsequent month.
Or he could also be making the very best of a stretched squad that seems to be feeling the consequences of fatigue. Setien solely named 5 outfield gamers on the bench.
“We’ve had a lot of games, a lot of wear and a lot of players playing a lot of minutes. It’s not rocket science,” he mentioned.
“When you’re tired, you lose more balls, make bad decisions. It’s normal.”
The system labored properly within the first half however Barca’s drawback of changing possession into possibilities remained and Valladolid grew in confidence late on.
Defeat leaves Valladolid 14th however survival seems to be all-but secured, with seven factors between them and the underside three.
Griezmann snatched at an early end contained in the field earlier than Vidal confirmed him the way it was finished.
Messi recovered the ball on the sting of the world and after receiving it again from Semedo, scooped it via to Vidal, who gathered and unleashed multi functional motion to seek out the far nook.
Valladolid’s Kike Perez raced away from Gerard Pique however misplaced his footing on the essential second earlier than Messi weaved via however drove vast.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen needed to make two saves within the second half as Valladolid pushed, the primary from an Enes Unal header and the second in injury-time, after Sandro Ramirez was allowed area on the again publish.
Third-placed Atletico Madrid made positive of their place within the Champions League subsequent season with a 1-Zero win over Real Betis regardless of enjoying greater than half an hour with 10 males.
Diego Costa grabbed the one objective from a Yannick Carrasco free-kick within the 73rd minute after VAR had earlier dominated out two targets.
Atletico full-back Mario Hermoso had been red-carded within the 57th minute.
Promoted
Earlier, Celta Vigo surrendered a priceless level within the relegation battle by conceding within the 91st-minute to Osasuna, Jose Arnaiz sealing a 2-1 win.
Defeat means Celta keep 4 factors away from the underside three however having performed a sport greater than these under them.
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