• Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates with Pedri after scoring his team's second goal during their 3-2 La Liga win at Athletic Bilbao on January 6. Getty
    Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates with Pedri after scoring his team's second goal during their 3-2 La Liga win at Athletic Bilbao on January 6. Getty
  • Barca's Lionel Messi scores the second. Getty
    Barca's Lionel Messi scores the second. Getty
  • Messi dribbles past Athletic Bilbao's Mikel Vesga. AP
    Messi dribbles past Athletic Bilbao's Mikel Vesga. AP
  • Barcelona celebrate their first, scored by Pedri. Getty
    Barcelona celebrate their first, scored by Pedri. Getty
  • Messi celebrates after scoring the second. EPA
    Messi celebrates after scoring the second. EPA
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores their third goal. AP
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores their third goal. AP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. Reuters
  • Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward Iker Muniain, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal. AFP
    Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward Iker Muniain, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal. Reuters
  • Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams scores the first goal against Barcelona. EPA
    Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams scores the first goal against Barcelona. EPA
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi surrounded by four Bilbao players. AP
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi surrounded by four Bilbao players. AP
  • Left to right: Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Pedri and Frenkie De Jong celebrate their team's goal. AFP
    Left to right: Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Pedri and Frenkie De Jong celebrate their team's goal. AFP
  • Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman congratulates Lionel Messi after the match. AFP
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman congratulates Lionel Messi after the match. AFP

Lionel Messi back to his magical best as Barcelona prove 'title race is still open' - in pictures


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Coach Ronald Koeman was glowing with pride after Barcelona's 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao and said the performance was a benchmark for the remainder of the season.

Barca fell behind in the third minute to an Inaki Williams goal during a counterattack but responded emphatically with goals from Pedri and a resurgent Lionel Messi either side of halftime before Iker Muniain struck late for the hosts.

"That's the way we need to continue. I felt like we controlled the game the whole time and there were barely any dips in our play," Koeman said.

The win lifted Barca into third place in the standings and led Koeman to reassess previous pessimistic comments about his side's faint chances of catching leaders Atletico Madrid, who lead the Catalans by seven points with two games in hand.

"The title race is still open because the season is very long. There can be injuries, teams can have downturns and a side that looks very good can end up struggling," he said.

The Dutchman also praised Messi, who produced arguably his best performance of the season and was unlucky not to grab a hat-trick.

The Barca captain has had a relatively poor season by his own standards but his scores took him on to nine goals for the campaign, making him the joint top scorer in La Liga.

"Messi has given everything since day one, he has spent so many years at the very top level but it seems that now he has become even more effective," Koeman said. "He has always shown us his skill and his commitment but today he gave us his goals too."

On 18-year-old playmaker Pedri, Koeman added: "He plays with so much maturity despite his age and most importantly he uses his head."

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The years Ramadan fell in May

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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

'Nightmare Alley'

Director:Guillermo del Toro

Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

Rating: 3/5

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets