Barcelona extend lead at the top of the Liga BBVA

Messi 300

The game was played at a hectic pace in the opening exchanges with FC Barcelona dominating and R.Sporting looking to break away on the counter-attack. Luis Suarez had been denied by Ivan Cuellar a few minutes earlier, when Leo Messi stepped up to break the deadlock. The Argentine worked an opening on the edge of the area and with his left foot fired low into the corner for his 300th Liga BBVA goal.

Sporting reply

Abelardo’s men had been threatening with their pace on the counter, and levelled the scores only two minutes later. With Barça out of position, Alex Menendez crossed low from the left, and Carlos Castro slid in at the back post to beat Claudio Bravo. It was the forward’s third goal of the season, and it stoked the atmosphere at a packed Molinon.

Messi again.

The Liga BBVA’s leading scorer Luis Suarez grabbed a hat-trick against RC Celta on the weekend, but turned provider in the 31st. Shielding the ball in the area, he laid it back for Messi and the Barça number 10 smashed a shot into the near top corner for his 15th Liga BBVA goal of the campaign.

Luis Suarez redeems himself

Neymar, who had hit the post in the first half, was brought down for a penalty after the beak and Luis Suarez stepped up to take it. But Sporting keeper Cuellar guessed correctly and dived to his right to push it away. The Uruguayan was furious with himself and quickly made amends. Winning a ball on the edge of the area, he cut back inside on to his right foot and curled a shot in off the far post. It was his 24th strike of the Liga BBVA campaign.

Barca extend lead

Luis Enrique’s men extended their unbeaten run to 31 games in all competitions and moved six points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid in the standings. As for Sporting, it was a spirited, battling display that earned a rousing round of applause from the home fans at the final whistle. Sporting went 16th, two points above the relegation places.