On this Day: Javier Mascherano scores first Barcelona goal
Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The drought was broken after seven seasons
Javier Mascherano was celebrating scoring his first ever Barcelona goal on this day in 2017, netting in a 7-1 win over Osasuna at the Camp Nou.
The Argentine finally found the back of the net after 319 games for the Catalan giants, smashing home from the penalty spot after Denis Suarez had been fouled.
What a moment...
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 26, 2020
After 7 years and 319 matches, @Mascherano scored his first @FCBarcelona goal #OnThisDay in 2017! ❤️#StayAtHome #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/YSptV8mFyx
Barcelona were already 5-1 up by the time the referee pointed to the spot. Ivan Rakitic initially grabbed the ball but then handed it to Mascherano to net his first Barca goal.
He admitted after the match that he hadn’t wanted to take it but was pressured by his team-mates to step up.
“At first I tried to get out of it but under pressure from my team-mates and the crowd I decided to take it on,” he said.
“It would have been a fun moment to remember in years to come had I missed it. I wasn’t sure about it at all but it was difficult to say no to my team-mates.”
Meanwhile, manager Luis Enrique, Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez on the bench could hardly hide their delight at seeing Mascherano on the scoresheet.
Rakitic summed it up pretty nicely afterwards too: “I am happy for Masche; the whole stadium wanted him to score and let’s hope he gets more.”
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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