TheCable

Manchester United and Juventus enjoyed comfortable wins, while Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal as Barcelona managed a draw in three different league matches played on Tuesday night

Man United won 3-0 at Brighton, Juventus wore down Genoa before prevailing 3-1 while Barca, once again, fumbled in their La Liga title challenge to draw 2-2 at home to Atletico Madrid.

In the English Premier League (EPL), United’s bright and attacking start at Brighton was rewarded with a Mason Greenwood goal on 16 minutes.

The ice cold, young striker picked the ball up from outside the box and ran at an ultra-defensive setup before planting a low shot into the near post to score his sixth goal of the season.

Bruno Fernandes, a Portuguese midfielder, grabbed a fortuitous goal on the half hour mark to make it 2-0. His miskicked shot bounced off the turf and flew past Brighton’s keeper to put a dominant United in control.

Fernandes made it 3-0 in the 51st minute through a classic Man United counter attack.

The Red Devils sprang into action after clearing a Brighton free kick, with Greenwood taking off on a run before delivering a back-post cross too Fernandes who’s right-footed volley found the back of the net.

Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo came on twelve minutes from the end as United saw out the match to notch up consecutive league wins. They are also unbeaten since the resumption of the league.

…700 career goals for Messi

Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s diminutive playmaker, record goalscorer and captain, scored his 700th career goal as a footballer in the Camp Nou as the home side could only manage a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid.

In a match that featured three penalties, Messi scored one of those to make it 700 career goals, of which 630  have been scored in Barca’s shirt.

Barcelona took the lead on 11 minutes through an own goal scored by Diego Costa who inadvertently diverted Lionel Messi’s corner kick into his own net.

Atletico Madrid equalized eight minutes later via the first penalty kick earned when Yannick Carrasco was brought down by Arturo Vidal.

Diego Costa had his spot kick saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen but the Barcelona goalkeeper had strayed off his line and the penalty was retaken by Saul Niguez who dispatched it to restore parity at 1-1.

A second penalty was awarded to Barcelona early in the second period and Messi stepped up to restore the home side’s lead.

Carrasco was again brought down in the box and Saul Niguez duly converted his second penalty of the night to restore parity at 2-2.

The draw is a further blow to the troubled defending league champions who are on 70 points, one less than Real Madrid, the league leaders — who have played a game less.

…Cristiano Ronaldo relentless for Juventus

In Italy, Juventus maintained their four-point lead at the summit of the Serie A with a domineering 3-1 win at Genoa, thanks to second half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa.

Ronaldo, five-time Balon d’Or winner, had most of the chances in the first half but was repeatedly thwarted by Perrin in Genoa’s goal.

The Old Lady of Turin could not be denied in the second period as Dybala opened scoring on 50 minutes. The Argentine forward evaded the challenge of two defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Ronaldo doubled the lead six minutes later with a trademark strike from distance for his 23rd goal of the season. The Portuguese picked up the ball from deep, ran at Genoa’s retreating defence before belting the ball beyond the keeper from 25 yards.

Douglas Costa made it 3-0 for Juventus with a 20-yard curler, but Genoa pulled one back when a defensive mix up allowed Andrea Pinamonti to grab a consolation goal for the home side.

Juventus remain four points ahead of Lazio in the league title race with nine matches still to be played.