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Lionel Messi penalty: Barcelona star looks frustrated in goal celebration vs Valladolid
LIONEL MESSI opened the scoring for Barcelona against Valladolid tonight - but certainly looked relieved to find the net.
Barcelona were set to head into half time goalless against relegation strugglers Valladolid.
The Nou Camp club had been enduring a tough outing on their home turf as Valladolid sought an upset.
And Messi’s goal from the penalty spot two minutes before the break suggested Barca are feeling the pressure in the title race.
Barca currently sit top of La Liga but just four points above Atletico Madrid, and six ahead of Real Madrid.
Real have clawed back ground on their rivals in recent weeks, with Barca drawing against Valencia in their last league game.
Ernesto Valverde’s men are still to play Lyon in the Champions League and then must face Sevilla and Real away from home in La Liga.
Lionel Messi has had to take on more goalscoring responsibility this season, with Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho faltering.
And he punched the air not once but twice in an aggressive celebration following his converted spot kick today.
Messi drove his penalty into the bottom-right corner of the net and looked as though the tension had been released.
Messi is contracted to Barcelona until 2021 and talks over a new deal are expected to get underway.
Barca president Josep Bartomeu said this week that the 31-year-old will retire at the Nou Camp.
"Leo Messi will continue with us," Bartomeu said.
"He is a club player and the relationship will continue forever.
"He has told us that he wants to continue.
"We have offered him a new contract over five years and I hope we will continue discussing the deal."
Meanwhile, Barca yesterday confirmed Valverde has signed a new contract at the club, which keeps him in Catalonia until at least the summer of 2020.
There is an option to extend the deal for another 12 months after that.