“Against derby rivals Espanyol, Messi bends a second free kick of the night over a leaping wall and inside the far top corner from a difficult angle, completing a masterclass brace and reaching La Liga goal number 394.”
Messi tears apart Espanyol in the Barcelona derby with a brace and a sublime assist, dictating every attack as he turns a heated league rivalry into his personal showcase of control and creativity.
With the game tied at 2–2, Messi whips a left‑footed free kick from a difficult angle over the Betis wall and just inside the post to restore Barcelona’s lead, his second goal in only 34 minutes and La Liga strike number 214.
Against Almería he whips a low, bending free kick around the wall and just inside the post from a difficult angle to double Barça’s lead, his only goal in a dominant Man of the Match display and career strike number 377.
From a tight-angle free kick that carries just 0.05 xG, Messi bends the ball over the Leganés wall and beyond a frozen keeper to break the deadlock, marking his 40th direct free-kick goal and career strike number 605.
Against Celta with the deadlock unbroken, Messi whips a left‑footed free kick from a difficult angle over the wall and inside the near top corner, a precise, dipping strike that begins a 6–1 rout and brings him to 299 La Liga goals.