Lionel Messi surpasses Xavi and sets record for appearances in Barcelona

Lionel Messi played his 768th game for Barcelona to surpass Xavi Hernández in the record number of appearances for the club.

Messi and American defender Sergiño Dest each scored two goals for Barcelona to easily beat Sociedad for their fifth straight league win, and ninth straight away from home.

Griezmann opened the scoring in the 37th before Dest scored in the 43rd and 53rd minutes for his first league goals for the Catalan club.

The American right-back had already scored in a Champions League match in his first season with the Spanish powerhouse.

Messi scored his league-leading 22 and 23 goals from inside the box at 56 and 89.

Ousmane Demebélé scored in the 71st minute shortly after an offside goal was disallowed.

The only goal of the Society was scored by Ander Barrenetxea in the 77th minute.

The next Barcelona receives Valladolid threatened by relegation, while Atlético visits Sevilla, fourth classified.

Athletico wins

After Jan Oblak hit the ball with a superb penalty save in the 86th minute, Atlético de Madrid coach Diego Simeone celebrated on the wing as if his team had just scored a goal.

His players did too, rushing to embrace the man who assured Atlético a victory that could be decisive in the fight for the Spanish League.

Luis Suárez had previously scored his 500th career goal for the club and the country to help Atlético achieve a close 1-0 home win over relegation-threatened Alavés on Sunday.

The victory, Atlético’s third in the last seven league games, left the leader four points ahead of Barcelona, ​​who stayed close after beating Real Sociedad 6-1, fifth.

“Fortunately I made the stop near the end of the game and we were able to score all three points,” Oblak said. “These points are crucial for us, as Real Madrid and Barcelona are after us.”

In search of their first league title since 2014, Atlético will enter the international break six points behind Real Madrid, third, who beat Celta de Vigo 3-1 on Saturday.

“We will keep trying to win our matches and then we will see what happens in the end,” said Antoine Griezmann. “If we keep playing like we have recently, we can do it.”

Suárez, who had scored only two goals in the last nine games in all competitions, put Atlético ahead with a diving header in the 54th minute after a cross from Kieran Trippier.

Oblak, who had been unsuccessful on penalties recently, preserved the victory by diving to his right to make a one-handed save against Joselu’s late shot from point.

“All the great teams have these players who can be decisive by scoring goals and making saves,” said Simeone.

The penalty came after defender Stefan Savic elbowed an opponent while trying to protect the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Atlético came from the elimination against Chelsea in the knockout stages of the Champions League and had drawn 0-0 at Getafe in their previous Spanish league match.

Aláves has lost five of his last six league games. It is placed penultimate in the classification of 20 teams with 23 points, two from safety.

Simeone’s team held a comfortable lead in the league until recently, but had gradually lost ground as Barcelona and Madrid charged to the top.

OTHER RESULTS

Villarreal, seventh, beat Cádiz 2-1 with goals from Gerard Moreno and Carlos Bacca.

Valencia beat Granada 2-1 thanks to goals from Daniel Wass and Álex Blanco.

Getafe, without victories in three league games, drew 1-1 against Elche threatened by relegation.

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