Milestones for Messi and Xavi in Barcelona win
Saturday, October 27, 2012
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Lionel Messi surpassed 300 career goals and Xavi Hernández hit his 50th in the Liga as FC Barcelona won 5-0 at Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, after Valencia CF suffered another away defeat.
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FC Barcelona breezed to a 5-0 win at Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, a victory shaped by milestone goals for Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernández.
David Villa's fourth strike in seven top-flight appearances, clinically finishing off Cesc Fàbregas' through ball, gave the Blaugrana a half-time advantage. Messi's 300th goal for club and country doubled the lead shortly after the break, before Xavi Hernández made it three with his 50th in the Liga.
Fábregas converted Pedro Rodríguez's cross and Messi rounded Ruben Martínez to complete the scoring as Barça took their points tally to 25 from nine matches.
Valencia CF's struggles on the road show little sign of abating. The Blanquinegros fell to their fourth defeat in five away Liga fixtures this term, this time at Real Betis Balompié. Salva Sevilla scored the only goal inside nine minutes.
Meanwhile, third-placed Málaga CF recorded their tenth clean sheet of the season in all competitions as they were held at RCD Espanyol. RC Celta de Vigo, despite losing Gustavo Cabral to a 51st-minute red card, played out a 1-1 draw with RC Deportivo La Coruña, who remain in the relegation zone.
