Lionel Messi scored a superb free kick against Bilbao on January 31, 2020. -
Joan Monfort / AP / SIPA
Under the heat of the news after the revelations about his "pharaonic" contract with FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi replied with a masterful free kick Sunday night which allowed Barça to win 2-1 against Athletic Bilbao for the 21st day of La Liga.
650th career goal with Barça
The Catalan superstar opened the scoring with this direct free kick that came to rest in the Basque skylight (20th), then Antoine Griezmann pushed Oscar Mingueza's offering into the nets (75th) to seal the Catalan success, while Jordi Alba had allowed the Basques to equalize with a goal against his camp (49th).
[🎞️VIDEO - ⚽️GOAL] 🇪🇸 FC Barcelona
💥💥 Lionel Messssiiiii !!!
💥💥
😱 La Pulga opens the scoring with a millimeter free kick that goes through the skylight ☄️🎯https: //t.co/yxK5cuAMdd
- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 31, 2021
Cornered by the Spanish press on Sunday after the publication of the astronomical figures of the contract of the captain blaugrana (more than 555 M EUR over four years), Messi responded on the ground. La Pulga (chip, in Spanish) unblocked the situation for allow the Catalans, who started badly at the start of the season, to join Real Madrid in 2nd place in the standings (40 pts), ten points behind the leader, Atlético Madrid, solid winner of Cadiz 4-2 in the aftermath midday.
10 points behind Suarez's Atletico Madrid
And the Argentine superstar was able to take his revenge on Bilbao during this first Barça meeting at Camp Nou in 2021: on January 17, in the final of the Spanish Supercup, Messi received the first red card in his history at Barça in the very end of overtime for a gesture of frustration.
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