Kenya to cut budget deficit to 4.5%    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    France's harmonised inflation eases slightly in April    Egypt's El-Khatib: Govt. keen on boosting exports    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    49th Hassan II Trophy and 28th Lalla Meryem Cup Officially Launched in Morocco    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Messi aims to add to successful scoring run against Atletico
AP Published in Ahram Online on 25 - 02 - 2017

Lionel Messi scores goals, lots of them. And no team has allowed more of them than Atletico Madrid.
The Barcelona forward will get a chance to add to his impressive tally of 26 career goals against Atletico on Sunday, when a victory at the Vicente Calderon Stadium could move the defending champions ahead of Real Madrid for the first time in months.
Barcelona is only one point behind Madrid, but the Spanish league leaders still have a game in hand and face Villarreal later Sunday.
"There's still a lot of league left, but we can't falter anymore," Barcelona defender Jordi Alba said. "We are alive and we are convinced that if we keep doing things right the way, we will have a chance to win the title."
Messi has been averaging a goal per game in all competitions and has scored 34 times this season. One of those came against Atletico in this year's Copa del Rey.
The 29-year-old Argentina captain has not gone two consecutive games without scoring since early September, and is the league's leading scorer with 19 goals — one more than teammate Luis Suarez. He has scored 10 times in his last nine league games, and has 11 goals in 14 matches overall in 2017.
If Barcelona beats fourth-place Atletico, Messi will earn his 400th career victory with the Catalan club. He has 399 wins, 64 losses and 102 draws in all competitions since his official debut in 2004.
Barcelona has been struggling recently, though, coming off a humiliating 4-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a lackluster 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Leganes at Camp Nou last Sunday, when Messi scored twice, including a 90th-minute winner after a controversial penalty.
Fans loudly jeered the team, a rarity for a club which has dominated world soccer in the past decade. Most of the criticism has been aimed at coach Luis Enrique, who is accused of failing to make a team full of stars play up to its potential.
Atletico, meanwhile, has won three in a row in the league and is coming off a 4-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Although the Spanish league title remains a longshot, victory over Barcelona could bring the team closer to Sevilla in third place, which guarantees an automatic qualifying spot for next season's Champions League.
"We know it's going to be a tough match," Atletico Madrid left back Filipe Luis said. "But we are going through a good moment. We have confidence."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

Clic here to read the story from its source.