Lionel Messi news: Barcelona star lucky to avoid red card against Espanyol where he scored two goals, including brilliant free-kick

Lionel Messi may have been the hero for Barcelona against Espanyol, but he was lucky to have avoided a red card.

Messi scored twice in the 2-0 derby win, including a superb free-kick, but lashed out at former Real Madrid and QPR midfielder Esteban Granero while lying on the floor.

| |@BumperGraham: "In anybody else's book that is a red card."

Should Lionel Messi have been sent off for Barcelona?

Watch all #LaLiga highlights || https://t.co/7V7lJPjOBZ pic.twitter.com/mKJIQSMyOd

— Eleven Sports (@ElevenSports_UK) March 31, 2019

Watching the game, Spanish football journalist Graham Hunter said the player was lucky to be on the pitch.

“In anybody else’s book, that is a red card,” he said.

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“Messi’s made a rash decision and in my view he’s fortunate that hasn’t been seen as a red card offence.”

There were 92,795 fans in the Camp Nou to see Barcelona win, which after El Clasico, is the second biggest crowd of the season.

The Argentina international dinked his first goal from the edge of the box, with Espanyol defender Victor Sanchez unable to clear as he ran back towards the goal line.

He then finished off a counter-attack late on to take his tally to 31 goals for the season.

| |

Lionel Messi was at it again today…

Goal 1) Audacious free-kick
Goal 2) Dictionary definition of a Barcelona goal

That's now EIGHT (8) seasons Lionel Messi has scored 30 or more #LaLiga goals pic.twitter.com/AU7QdUXSKh

— Eleven Sports (@ElevenSports_UK) March 30, 2019

Recently, Messi won first, second and third place in a vote of the club’s greatest ever goals.

Barcelona are 10 points clear of second place Atletico Madrid in LaLiga and face Manchester United for a place in the Champions League semi-final. The first leg, at Old Trafford, takes place on 10 April.

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