Sports

Messi hat-trick seals Barca title, Rogic scores in big Old Firm win

Ernesto Valverde's unbeaten side have 86 points from 34 games, 11 clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Lionel Messi claimed another hat-trick as Barcelona won La Liga.

Photo: AP

Rogic scores as Celtic seals title

Tom Rogic was one of four Celtic goalscorers in the 5-0 thrashing of local rivals Rangers which sealed a seventh successive Scottish Premiership title.

The Socceroos ace scored his fifth goal of the campaign when he fired home from the edge of the box just two minutes into the second half.

Rogic was substituted on 67 minutes, at which point the Hoops had already rounded off their rout.

Uncertainty remains over the long-term future of the 25-year-old, who has previously rejected a contract extension as he enters into the final year of his current deal.

Rangers came into the encounter having not tasted victory in an Old Firm derby in eight matches, and were soon on the back foot when Odsonne Edouard put the hosts in front with just 14 minutes on the clock. Edouard made it two with a fine finish in the 42nd minute, before James Forrest drilled home a third on the stroke of half-time.

Tom Rogic scored again for Celtic.

Photo: PA

Further goals from Rogic on 47 minutes and Callum McGregor in the 53rd minute added to Rangers humiliation, as Celtic Park went into party mode.

The Bhoys season is not over yet, they still have the Scottish Cup final against Motherwell to come, as they chase an unprecedented second Scottish treble in a row.

Shock in Italy

A Giovanni Simeone hat-trick sank Napoli 3-0 at Fiorentina as the Neapolitans slipped four points behind leaders Juventus with three games left in Italys Serie A league.

Juventus, who are seeking a seventh successive Scudetto, won 3-2 at a 10-man Inter Milan on Saturday, a week after Napoli stunned them 1-0 in Turin from a late Kalidou Koulibaly goal to close within one point.

Koulibaly was the villain this time around, with a last-man foul on Simeone earning him a red card in the eighth minute.

Loading

It allowed La Viola to take control at the Artemio Franchi and they went in front on 34 minutes.

Argentinian Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid boss Diego, stormed onto a long ball to fire under Pepe Reina and he again beat the Spanish goalkeeper on 62 minutes, flicking in amid defensive dithering.

He added a third from a Federico Chiesa assist in stoppage time.

I am still young. I have a lot to learn and improve, 22-year-old Simeone said. [Coach Stefano] Pioli has always trusted in me. I am happy to be at Fiorentina and I believe in this team.

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri said that the dismissal and the first goal knocked his squads confidence.

I dont know what happened, Sarri said, because in the past weve always stuck together as a team and fought back. We lost our unity today and let the adversity get the better of us.

Fourth-placed Lazio are four points ahead of Inter and occupy the last Champions League slot after closing the 35th round of matches with a 1-0 win at Torino. Lazio are level on points with Roma, but trail on head-to-head games.

Napoli's Allan reacts to the disappointing result.

Photo: AP

Germany's World Cup blow

Borussia Moenchengladbach captain Lars Stindl has been ruled out of the World Cup for Germany due to a left ankle injury sustained in Saturdays Bundesliga 1-1 draw with Schalke.

The club says Stindl has been diagnosed with capsule and ligament damage, and will undergo an operation during the week. The 29-year-old will be out for around three months.

To suffer such a bad injury at this point in the season is very hard, Stindl said.

On the one hand I cant help my team at the important season finale, and on the other, my World Cup dream is also over.

Stindl has four goals in 11 appearances for Germany. He last played in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Brazil in Berlin last month.

Reuters, DPA, AP

Comments disabled

Morning & Afternoon Newsletter

Delivered Mon–Fri.

Related Articles

Back to top button