Barca 4-1 Alaves: Messi hits 50th goal for 9th year; Suarez has 3 assists & goal

Barcelona end 2019 victorious with a straightforward 4-1 win over Deportivo Alaves, as Lionel Messi got his 50th goal of the year.

Match Report

Lionel Messi took his goals tally for club and country in 2019 to 50 with a stunning strike in Barcelona's final match of the year, helping them to a 4-1 win over Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

The Argentina superstar had been unusually subdued for much of the match, appearing a little off the pace, but he produced a ferocious 25-yard effort in the second half to ensure he finishes the sixth successive calendar year with at least half a century of goals.

Alaves kept Barca at bay for only 14 minutes, as Antoine Griezmann scored his fourth goal in seven matches across all competitions, and Arturo Vidal doubled their lead with a fierce strike just before half-time.

The visitors did hit back through Pere Pons early in the second half, offering them encouragement, but Messi effectively ended their hopes with his wonderful strike and Luis Suarez – who had set up the first three goals – deservedly got in on the act late on from a controversial penalty.

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Match Events

9' OFFSIDE! Messi’s goal disallowed

Messi puts the ball past the keeper after a beautiful pass from Busi, but the flags up!

14' GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Alaves (Griezmann)

Vidal feeds Suarez on the right and the striker cuts it back to the centre of the box. Navarro misses his interception and the Frenchman arrives to fire a right-footed effort into the bottom corner first-time!

45' GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Alaves (Vidal)

Barcelona work the ball to the edge of the box with Messi, but it's very congested and he finds Suarez to his right, before the Uruguayan feeds Vidal in space in the box and the midfielder smashes a first-time shot across the keeper and in! It's 2-0 to Barcelona!

56' GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Alaves (Pons)

GOAL!! ALAVES HAVE ONE BACK! Duarte charges down the left and pulls out an excellent cross from the byline into the middle. Pons makes a late, unmarked run into the area and steers a header into the bottom-left corner past a helpless Ter Stegen! It's 2-1 now!

69' GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Alaves (Messi)

GOAL!! WHAT A HIT FROM MESSI!! The Barcelona captain picks the ball up and drives past several players before curling in a beauty from the edge of the box that flies into the top-left corner! It's 3-1 to Barcelona!

75' Penalty Goal! Barcelona 4-1 Alaves (Suarez)

GOAL! SUAREZ SCORES! The Uruguayan gets himself on the scoresheet now, sending Pacheco the wrong way with an emphatic finish to the left. It's 4-1 to Barcelona!

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