‘There’s no player like Messi in the world’

Lionel Messi confirmed his status as LaLiga’s most influential player as his superb free kick saw Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 yesterday to open up an eight-point gap at the top of the table.

Second-placed Atletico visited the Camp Nou in better form than their hosts, but Barca controlled the first 45 minutes, and Messi’s 26th-minute dead ball arrowed to the top corner was scant reward for their domination of possession and territory.

Atletico were a different team after the break, coach Diego Simeone throwing on two extra forwards, but a blaugrana back-line marshalled by Gerard Pique held out without too many problems.