Comment for best goal in 2013
Comment for best goal in 2013 so far :
10 - Steven Gerrard vs Manchester City
9 - Sergio Aguero vs Liverpool
8 - Frank Lampard vs Newcastle
7 - Hulk vs Liverpool
6 - Samuel Umtiti vs Tottenham
5 - Gareth Bale vs Lyon
4 - Jose Enrique vs Swansea
3 - Rafael vs QPR
2 - Papiss Cisse vs Southampton
1 - Gareth Bale vs West Ham
Lionel Messi's goal streak hits 19 in draw
Lionel Messi
again made history but his goal was not enough to earn Barcelona a win
over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo, and Barca settled for a 2-2 draw.
Messi
is no stranger to treading new ground and his 73rd-minute goal Saturday
meant he has scored in 19 successive La Liga matches.
In doing so he has found the net against every other side in the competition -- the first player to ever do that in consecutive matches -- and he has 29 goals in his past 19 games.
Saturday's goal would not be the winner, though, with Borja Oubina's late header earning Celta a point, and Naxto Insa's opener having been earlier scrubbed out by Cristian Tello's goal.
It was a good day for Barca, however, with Messi's latest record being set and Eric Abidal on the bench for the first time since a liver transplant over a year ago.
The France defender did not make it on to the field but his return is a significant one, as is that of coach Tito Vilanova who was not at the game but is back in the country after undergoing chemotherapy in the United States.
He will have been relatively pleased with his side, too, although Barcelona was a little off the pace to start with as Celta, which remains in the bottom three, did all the running.
Augusto Fernandez's shot was tipped around the post by Jose Pinto and with 38 minutes gone Insa put the home side ahead, slotting in from close range after a smart cross from Fabian Orellana.
Barca would level before the break, though, with Tello being played in down the left by Messi and opening his body before curling a shot across the body of Javi Varas and in to the far corner.
In between times, both sides had seen penalty appeals turned down, with Messi and Chu-Young Park both claiming to have been tripped, but both were waved away.
Messi would have an impact after the interval, having a shot smartly saved by Varas and then securing another piece of history with 17 minutes left.
The first goal was reversed, with Tello pulling back from the left and Messi arriving just in time to convert.
It would not secure the points, though, with Oubina's looping header off Fabian Orellana's 88th-minute cross and levelling things up.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring for Barcelona in his 19th straight La Liga match on Saturday.
In doing so he has found the net against every other side in the competition -- the first player to ever do that in consecutive matches -- and he has 29 goals in his past 19 games.
Saturday's goal would not be the winner, though, with Borja Oubina's late header earning Celta a point, and Naxto Insa's opener having been earlier scrubbed out by Cristian Tello's goal.
It was a good day for Barca, however, with Messi's latest record being set and Eric Abidal on the bench for the first time since a liver transplant over a year ago.
The France defender did not make it on to the field but his return is a significant one, as is that of coach Tito Vilanova who was not at the game but is back in the country after undergoing chemotherapy in the United States.
He will have been relatively pleased with his side, too, although Barcelona was a little off the pace to start with as Celta, which remains in the bottom three, did all the running.
Augusto Fernandez's shot was tipped around the post by Jose Pinto and with 38 minutes gone Insa put the home side ahead, slotting in from close range after a smart cross from Fabian Orellana.
Barca would level before the break, though, with Tello being played in down the left by Messi and opening his body before curling a shot across the body of Javi Varas and in to the far corner.
In between times, both sides had seen penalty appeals turned down, with Messi and Chu-Young Park both claiming to have been tripped, but both were waved away.
Messi would have an impact after the interval, having a shot smartly saved by Varas and then securing another piece of history with 17 minutes left.
The first goal was reversed, with Tello pulling back from the left and Messi arriving just in time to convert.
It would not secure the points, though, with Oubina's looping header off Fabian Orellana's 88th-minute cross and levelling things up.
Struggling Sunderland axe O'Neill
Sunderland have confirmed they have "parted company" with manager Martin O'Neill after Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, left the club 16th in the Premier League table.
PA PhotosMartin O'Neill was in the Sunderland dugout for just 15 months
A statement on the Wearsiders' official website said: "Sunderland AFC has announced that it has parted company with manager Martin O'Neill this evening.
"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Martin and wishes him well for the future. An announcement will be made in the coming days regarding a successor."
O'Neill, 61, took the reins at the Stadium of Light in December 2011 and guided the Wearsiders out of the bottom three and to a 13th-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
However, with Sunderland winless in eight games and currently just one point above the relegation zone, the club have acted to try and improve their fortunes in what has the makings of one of the most fiercely contested relegation battles in years.
The Wearsiders face tricky visits to European champions Chelsea and North East rivals Newcastle United in their next two games.
Former England boss Steve McClaren has emerged as the early bookies' favourite to replace O'Neill, with Paolo Di Canio, Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes also among the rumoured contenders.
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