Barcelona stroll past Malaga without Messi

MADRID, Spain -- Lionel Messi was away attending the birth of his son but Barcelona still had more than enough to beat 10-man Malaga 2-0 on Saturday and move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga.

Messi was watching the game on a television in hospital as Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho put his team two up inside half an hour at La Rosaleda, before Samuel Garcia was sent off in the 30th minute for a dangerous tackle on Jordi Alba.


Down a man and without a win in 12 matches, Malaga might have feared a rout but Barca settled for a straightforward victory, perhaps with one eye on Wednesday's Champions League last-16 clash against Chelsea.

On Messi's withdrawal, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said: "I found out this (Saturday) morning, before leaving home, I had already been called by the delegate of the club and he had told me the circumstances surrounding Leo.

"We already more or less knew when it might happen. It wasn't very difficult to replace him because I had a clear idea of how the game would go."

Messi is expected back against Chelsea at the Camp Nou, where the score is 1-1 from the first leg, but Valverde will have been delighted with how his attackers filled the void, as Suarez, Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele all delivered excellent displays.

In particular, Dembele's brilliant turn and pass was bettered only by Coutinho's flicked finish for what was a superb second goal.

"He has that ability," Valverde said of Dembele.

"Today I think had more success than at other times, but the good thing is that he always goes at the opponent, always challenges them, always tries to dribble, and we need people like that."

The win means Barca extend their advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid, who can pull the deficit back to eight points with a win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Malaga, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table.


- Ronaldo 'from another galaxy' -

Earlier on Saturday, Zinedine Zidane labelled Cristiano Ronaldo as "from another galaxy" after the striker's double dragged Real Madrid to a 2-1 win over Eibar.

Ronaldo headed in an 84th-minute winner at Ipurua, having earlier put Real in front with an emphatic near-post finish. Eibar's Ivan Ramis had equalised in between to give the home side hope.

But Ronaldo's two goals mean he has now scored in seven consecutive games and boasts a remarkable 13 goals overall in that period.

The 33-year-old's tally for club and country this season stands at 35 goals in 37 appearances.

"For me he's from another galaxy," Real coach Zidane said. "He knows that he will score. He is a different, special player. The statistics speak for themselves."

Real move four points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Eibar stay eighth.

Gareth Bale started up front alongside the Portuguese, while Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, fit enough only to come off the bench in midweek, returned.

Modric was excellent throughout, the Croatian providing a sublime pass with the outside of his foot for Ronaldo's opener.

"It's true that after 15, almost 20 days, Luka came in and played a great game," Zidane said.

"He is an important player for us and what he did, he did very well."

Valencia remain a point behind Real and all but ended Sevilla's hopes of finishing in the top four by beating Vincenzo Montella's men 2-0.

Sevilla trailed Valencia by eight points before kick-off but that gap was stretched to 11 after two goals from Rodrigo Moreno sealed a comfortable victory.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Barca cut deficit to Real thanks to magical Messi

BARCELONA - Lionel Messi produced a vintage second-half performance to help Barcelona to a 4-1 win over local rivals Espanyol on Sunday which saw the champions cut the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to three points.

Luis Suarez celebrated signing a new contract with Barca on Friday by firing the home side ahead in the 18th minute with the help of a brilliant pass from Andres Iniesta and the Uruguayan struck again in the 67th after a mazy run from Messi.

The Argentine maestro cut the Espanyol defence to ribbons again to allow Jordi Alba to score the third in the 68th before capping the victory with a goal of his own in the 89th, after David Lopez had pulled one back for the visiting side.

"When everyone is playing well it's important for individual talents, like those Messi has, to flourish. He's a sensational player," said Iniesta.

"It was an intense derby, we played well and we are very happy to have won the last league game of the year. We feel very good at the moment and we finish the year in the league feeling very happy with the way we are playing."

Barca are second on 34 points, three behind Real Madrid who have a game in hand due to their participation in the Club World Cup which they lifted after a 4-2 extra-time win over Kashima Antlers earlier on Sunday, while Sevilla are third on 33.

Espanyol have not beaten Barcelona since 2009 although they went into the game on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run in the league, conceding only once in their last six.

Their positive form counted for little, though, against a Barca side who have rediscovered their form after a slump in November.


FAST BREAK

The hosts made their intentions clear when Suarez burst through the middle and worked the ball to Neymar, only for Messi to send the final pass whistling past the near post.

The opener came from a lightning-quick break which began with a sliding tackle from Javier Mascherano on compatriot Pablo Piatti and Iniesta produced a sumptuous diagonal long ball for Suarez to knock into the far corner with one touch.

In the second half, Messi seized a loose ball and skipped past five defenders before his shot was spilled by substitute keeper Roberto and Suarez gobbled up the rebound to score again.

Messi produced another breathtaking run into the box a minute later, worming his way through four defenders and laying the ball off for Alba to ram past Roberto.

Lopez briefly silenced a jubilant Nou Camp with a well worked goal on the counter but Messi got the festivities started again with a fully deserved goal of his own, latching on to a chipped Suarez pass to put the ball through the keeper's legs.

"It's always good to finish the season on the right foot and I think we've hit the right notes and are on the right track," said Barca coach Luis Enrique.

"2017 is set to be a good year for us and we have the challenge of trying to retain the league title. I like what I've been seeing recently and this team is built for challenges like this."

Deportivo La Coruna piled more misery on bottom side Osasuna by beating the visiting Navarrans 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Florin Andone and Ryan Babel.

Lowly Leganes drew 1-1 at home to seventh-placed Eibar despite having keeper Iago Herrerin sent off in the 26th. Miguel Angel Guerrero had put the hosts ahead three minutes earlier but former Manchester United winger Bebe levelled in the 76th.

(Editing by Clare Fallon and Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Barcelona edge out Sevilla in bad-tempered Cup final

MADRID, Spain -- Jordi Alba and Neymar struck in extra-time as Barcelona completed a league and Cup double by lifting the Copa del Rey for a 28th time after a 2-0 win over Sevilla in a fiery game that saw three red cards on Sunday.

Javier Mascherano's dismissal just before half-time for pulling down Kevin Gameiro put Barca on the back foot and they were further depleted when 59-goal top scorer Luis Suarez limped off early in the second period.

However, they resisted Sevilla's pressure after the break and Barca's numerical disadvantage was cancelled out in stoppage time when Ever Banega saw red for chopping down Neymar.

Barca dominated the extra 30 minutes, but needed just six to finally make the breakthrough when Lionel Messi's sumptuous pass picked out Alba to volley into the far corner.

Neymar then slotted home a second in the dying seconds from another brilliant Messi assist after Daniel Carrico had also been dismissed for two bookable offences.

"It was a great intense and exciting final," said Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta.

"It was a last push for the club to complete a magnificent season."

Sevilla were looking for a double of their own after winning a third consecutive Europa League by beating Liverpool 3-1 on Wednesday.

However, just as in a thrilling 5-4 defeat to Barca to open the season in the European Super Cup in August, they fell just short as Luis Enrique's men claimed their fourth trophy of the season, having also won the Club World Cup in December.

"It has been a spectacular end to the season," added Barca boss Luis Enrique.

"The team has known how to compete marvellously despite the difficulties we have faced this season."

And Sevilla coach Unai Emery believes his side's exertions in midweek robbed them of the energy needed to make their numerical advantage count.

"We lacked freshness. If we had have been fresher we would have been able to create more chances," said Emery.

"Barca didn't have many opportunities, but they were efficient."

- Anthem jeers -

The political fallout over an initial ban on Catalan separatist flags by the Madrid authorities that was eventually overturned on appeal in the courts continued before kick-off as Barca fans jeered the Spanish national anthem.

The game appeared to swing Sevilla's way nine minutes before half-time when Mascherano hauled down Gameiro just outside the box as he bore down on goal.

Banega nearly doubled Barca's punishment as his sweet strike from the resulting free-kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Sevilla roared back from a goal down at the break to outclass Liverpool in midweek and started the second-half with intent once more as Banega's low drive came back off the post.

Barca were then dealt another huge blow just before the hour mark when Suarez pulled up with a muscle injury before leaving the field in tears with his chances of representing Uruguay at the Copa America next month now in jeopardy.

Sevilla were camped in the Barca half for much of the second half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Grzegorz Krychowiak saw a deflected effort flash just wide, whilst Vicente Iborra's appeals for a penalty after he clashed with Dani Alves were waived away.

Parity was restored in numbers on each side in stoppage time when Banega saw red for tripping Neymar on the edge of the area, but Sergio Rico tipped over Messi's resulting free-kick to take the game into extra time.

However, the Spanish international was left flat-footed when Alba latched onto Messi's ball over the top six minutes into extra-time and volleyed across goal into the far corner.

Rico kept Sevilla in the game with brilliant saves from Pique and Sergio Busquets, whilst Dani Alves also hit the post from distance as Barca threatened a second.

Sevilla's hopes of an equaliser were ended when Daniel Carrico was also sent-off for a second bookable offence.

And Messi promptly teed up Neymar to round off Barca's fourth Cup triumph in eight years in stoppage time.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Hat-trick hero Suarez leads Barca to title glory

BARCELONA- A ravenous Luis Suarez bagged a third hat-trick in five games as defending champions Barcelona won 3-0 at Granada to clinch their 24th La Liga title on Saturday.

The Uruguayan converted Jordi Alba's low pass in the 22nd minute to give Barca the lead. He then headed in Dani Alves' cross in the 38th before tapping Neymar's pass into an empty net in the 86th.

"We were on top of the table for many weeks and the most consistent team wins the title," coach Luis Enrique told a news conference.

"We will celebrate this, we enjoy our team and the style in which they play. We must value each title win because it is worth a lot."

Suarez finished the season as La Liga's top scorer with 40 goals, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's grip on the honour since 2009.

Barca ended with 91 points, one ahead of Real Madrid who won 2-0 at Deportivo La Coruna.

Ronaldo scored twice for Real to reach 50 goals in all competitions for the sixth consecutive season.

He was substituted at halftime after hurting his foot but there is no suggestion he could miss the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in two weeks' time.

Goals from Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann gave Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo while Athletic Bilbao beat Sevilla 3-1.

Atletico finished third on 88 points and Bilbao secured a place in the Europa League by ending up in fifth spot.

With attention on Wednesday's Europa League final against Liverpool, Sevilla coach Unai Emery put out a heavily-rotated team.

Gerard Pique came close to giving Barca an early lead against Granada when his header was tipped away by goalkeeper Andres Fernandez who also saved well from Messi.

Fernandez was powerless to stop Suarez's opener, however, the Uruguayan tapping the ball home at the far post.

The second goal was delightful. Javier Mascherano launched a long diagonal pass towards the byline and Alves raced to meet it before hooking a cross for Suarez to nod in from close range.

Suarez nearly laid on a third for Neymar but the Brazilian was denied by Fernandez.

Neymar then generously played in Suarez to complete his hat-trick before the end.

HARD WORK

"This title tastes great after so much hard work throughout the year and suffering right until the end," said Barca captain Andres Iniesta.

"The league is the tournament that tests your consistency throughout the year and it's the one we want to win every year."

Real got off to an ideal start at Deportivo when Gareth Bale manoeuvred his way past a defender on the left and cut the ball back to Karim Benzema who squared it for Ronaldo to score in the seventh minute.

The Portugal striker's second in the 25th minute had an element of good fortune, his header from a corner bouncing off Deportivo's Pedro Mosquera on its way into the net.

Ronaldo also hit the post and the crossbar before being replaced by James Rodriguez although there was no suggestion he had an injury two weeks before the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.

Real ended a campaign that has witnessed upheaval and managerial change by picking up a 12th consecutive league win but their revival came too late to catch Barca.

"We're a little disappointed after the effort we made," said coach Zinedine Zidane. "After 38 league games we can't change the fact Barcelona are champions.

"They deserved to win the league but I take my hat off to my lads."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com