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Agencies/TNN
Madrid
Antoine Griezmann answered his critics in style on Sunday by scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive.
After the humiliation of being brought on in the 90th minute against his former club Atletico Madrid, Griezmann was back in the starting line-up at La Ceramica and repaid the faith with a stunning goal, teed up by Lionel Messi.
Messi also laid on a curling Luis Suarez shot into the top corner after Gerard Moreno cancelled out a Pau Torres own-goal that had put Barca in front. Ansu Fati then added a fourth late on.
An impressive victory for Quique Setien’s side reduces the gap back to four points behind Real Madrid, who earlier ground out another 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with a Sergio Ramos penalty proving the difference.
The joy of winning just when it mattered was perhaps doubled for Barcelona as club president Josep Maria Bartomeu later quashed speculation over Messi’s future by saying the Argentinian will end his career at the Catalan club, dismissing a report saying he no longer wishes to renew his current contract when it expires next year.
“Messi has said he will end his working and footballing life at Barca,” Bartomeu told Spanish network Movistar.
“I’m not going to explain the details because we are focused on the competition and we are negotiating with many players but Messi has explained to us that he wants to stay and so we’re going to enjoy him for much longer.”
The 33-year-old Messi, who signed his last contract in 2017, has become more outspoken against the club’s hierarchy in the last year and radio station Cadena Ser said last Thursday he is unhappy with how Barca is being run and wants to leave in 2021.
Messi has been playing for Barcelona since the 2003-04 season and has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he has won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and six Copas del Rey.
He has scored 700 career goals for club and country, and was involved with two assists on Sunday.
Hits out at VAR ‘favouritism’
Bartomeu criticised the video assistant refereeing (VAR) technology insinuating it favours La Liga title rivals Real Madrid.
His side are four points behind Madrid with four league matches remaining and in recent weeks the current leaders have benefitted from various close calls after officials utilised the system.
Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Sunday, after Sergio Ramos scored a penalty awarded after referral to VAR, while the Basques were denied a spot-kick for a similar offence.
Barcelona had a goal disallowed by the system for a marginal off-side against Arturo Vidal in their 4-1 win over Villarreal.
“VAR is not living up to what we all wanted of it,” Bartomeu told Movistar. “Since the confinement, there have been many games which have not been fair and it’s always favoured the same side, and many teams have been hurt by it.
“VAR should help the referee, in recent games everybody has seen how the system has not been used well.”
Earlier, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he was fed up of complaints about his team benefitting from the officiating.
“I am tired of being told that we won because of the referees,” Zidane told reporters.
“This is not going to change. But the players deserve respect. Nothing is going to take away from our goal.”
Madrid
Antoine Griezmann answered his critics in style on Sunday by scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive.
After the humiliation of being brought on in the 90th minute against his former club Atletico Madrid, Griezmann was back in the starting line-up at La Ceramica and repaid the faith with a stunning goal, teed up by Lionel Messi.
Messi also laid on a curling Luis Suarez shot into the top corner after Gerard Moreno cancelled out a Pau Torres own-goal that had put Barca in front. Ansu Fati then added a fourth late on.
An impressive victory for Quique Setien’s side reduces the gap back to four points behind Real Madrid, who earlier ground out another 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with a Sergio Ramos penalty proving the difference.
The joy of winning just when it mattered was perhaps doubled for Barcelona as club president Josep Maria Bartomeu later quashed speculation over Messi’s future by saying the Argentinian will end his career at the Catalan club, dismissing a report saying he no longer wishes to renew his current contract when it expires next year.
“Messi has said he will end his working and footballing life at Barca,” Bartomeu told Spanish network Movistar.
“I’m not going to explain the details because we are focused on the competition and we are negotiating with many players but Messi has explained to us that he wants to stay and so we’re going to enjoy him for much longer.”
The 33-year-old Messi, who signed his last contract in 2017, has become more outspoken against the club’s hierarchy in the last year and radio station Cadena Ser said last Thursday he is unhappy with how Barca is being run and wants to leave in 2021.
Messi has been playing for Barcelona since the 2003-04 season and has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he has won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and six Copas del Rey.
He has scored 700 career goals for club and country, and was involved with two assists on Sunday.
Hits out at VAR ‘favouritism’
Bartomeu criticised the video assistant refereeing (VAR) technology insinuating it favours La Liga title rivals Real Madrid.
His side are four points behind Madrid with four league matches remaining and in recent weeks the current leaders have benefitted from various close calls after officials utilised the system.
Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Sunday, after Sergio Ramos scored a penalty awarded after referral to VAR, while the Basques were denied a spot-kick for a similar offence.
Barcelona had a goal disallowed by the system for a marginal off-side against Arturo Vidal in their 4-1 win over Villarreal.
“VAR is not living up to what we all wanted of it,” Bartomeu told Movistar. “Since the confinement, there have been many games which have not been fair and it’s always favoured the same side, and many teams have been hurt by it.
“VAR should help the referee, in recent games everybody has seen how the system has not been used well.”
Earlier, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he was fed up of complaints about his team benefitting from the officiating.
“I am tired of being told that we won because of the referees,” Zidane told reporters.
“This is not going to change. But the players deserve respect. Nothing is going to take away from our goal.”
