Messi inspires Blaugrana vs Mallorca and beats Pele's record

Lionel Messi scored his 55th goal of the season as 10-man Barcelona beat Mallorca 2-0 for their seventh consecutive league win. Messi, who broke Barcelona's all-time scoring record on Wednesday, netted from a poorly defended free-kick to become the first player in a top-level European league to score 55 goals in a season since Sporting Lisbon's Mário Jardel in 2002.

 Yahoo Eurosport

Xavi Hernández put the visitors ahead after 28 minutes and Messi doubled their advantage close to half-time, notching his 75th goal for club and country in 2012 – equalling the tally reached by Pelé in 1958. Cristian Tello grabbed Barça's third seconds later, and after Michael Pereira and Victor Casadesus reduced the deficit for Mallorca, Messi moved ahead of Pelé's haul with his second of the game. He now lies nine goals shy of Gerd Müller's record from 1972. Barcelona's Thiago Alcântara was sent off after receiving his second booking in the 56th minute, but Gerard Piqué volleyed in Messi's rebound off the post in the 79th to seal victory.

With Xavi Hernández on the bench, Barcelona's passing attack lacked its usual fluidity. But a horrible defensive lapse by the hosts let Messi score one of the easier goals of his record 235 for Barcelona. Various defenders failed to deal with Messi's lobbed free-kick and it bounced in the area before landing in the back of the net.

 Goal.com

Mallorca staged a mini-comeback at the start of the second half with the effervescent Pereira smashing in a half volley and Victor scoring from the spot after a handball by Sergio Busquets. However, Messi had the final say, as he has done on so many occasions for this brilliant Barcelona side, the Argentine blasting into the net on 70 minutes, following good play in the build up from substitute Alexis Sanchez. Mallorca are now on a six-match losing run in La Liga, their worst sequence of defeats since 1991-92, when they lost seven in a row. Meanwhile, Barça have extended their best ever start to a top-flight league campaign, with ten wins and a draw so far this term.

 Getty Images

Mallorca gained a numerical advantage after Thiago was shown a second yellow card for a questionable hand ball when it appeared he had used his shoulder to control the ball. But after Messi squirmed free and fired a shot off the goal frame, Piqué put the result beyond doubt when he converted the rebound. Messi has nine games left to score the ten goals to surpass Muller's 85 goals, and given his current run of form - 15 goals in 11 La Liga games - the 25-year-old is on course to usurp the German once more. The striker set another record last season when he scored 50 goals in a La Liga season, moving to the top of Barcelona's all-time top goalscorer list in the process after surpassing Cesar Rodriguez’s 57-year milestone of 232 goals in March. Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova expressed his delight at Messi's strike rate. He said: 'Leo’s records are spectacular. It’s spectacular when you think that he scores so many goals. 'Some few players reach these numbers in seven or eight seasons, he does it in one. And most of his goals are great goals.'

Champions League debut: Blaugrana win 3-2 over Spartak

Barcelona won the first match of the Champions League group but has difficulty to defeat Spartak. After 12 minutes Piqué is injured (out two-three weeks); Song (ex Arsenal) replaces Piquè. Spartak scored an own goal by Dani Alves and then goes ahead with Romulo (59').

Injured Puyol, mister Vilanova put Mascherano as central defender with Pique, on the outside there are Dani Alves and Adriano. In midfield there are Fabregas, Busquets and Xavi. Messi in attack returns from the first minute, Vilanova launches into the fray, the young Tello and to support Messi.

Spartak Moscow trying now to press the hosts in the first minutes of the game. Barcelona then immediately take the ball in the game and start the usual interminable typical possession. It is played nearly always in the half Russian, to the advantage of the hosts with an inspired Tello, who scores Dykan with a nice shot in turn.

It looks like the prelude to a goleada of Messi and company, but in the only offensive sortie, guests find a lucky par, with Dani Alves who scores own goal and returns the match in balance. Then the men of Vilanova react and pour in a determined way towards goal, finding in front of a well-organized defense. With every passing minute the occasions come, especially with the placement of midfielders, but the aim is not the best.

The second half began with the usual pattern: great possession of the hosts and control of the game. But to go ahead dramatically are the Russians, who make a perfect counterattack and pierce the Spanish defense with a nice phrasing. The men of Vilanova is thrown forward with his head down and began to grind the game.

To open the defense of Spartak thinks once again the young Tello that packs a perfect assist for Messi's equalizer. The same eight minutes after Messi disguises himself as a pure striker and finalize an excellent cross to head the newly entered Sanchez. From now until the end of the match FC Barcelona holds the ball and control a match that had started too uphill.

When things go wrong, we always think of the usual Messi to solve the problems of Barcelona. The 'Pulce' is well assisted by Tello and Sanchez and scores two goals in eight minutes, showing a sense of impressive goals. With a player like everything becomes easier.