European roundup: Lionel Messi leaves it late to put Barcelona top
07-Mar-2020 20:56:34 | The Guardian
• VAR-awarded spot-kick helps Barça overtake Real Madrid
• Achraf Hakimi gives Borussia Dortmund vital win in Gladbach
Lionel Messi kept his nerve from the penalty spot to give Barcelona a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga to return his side to the top of the table. Barça’s all-time top scorer calmly chipped the ball into the net in the 81st minute after the Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand had been penalised following a VAR review for hitting the ball with his arm as he contested a cross.
The penalty was awarded at a time when Barcelona were struggling to cope with Sociedad’s flowing counter-attacks, with the away side missing several chances to take the lead in a bold second-half display. Sociedad’s frustration at conceding the penalty was heightened when their former player Antoine Griezmann appeared to push over the defender Nacho Monreal in the area but no foul was awarded.
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