La Liga: Lionel Messi shines in his 750th Barcelona match, Luis Suarez leads Atletico win

Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (in yellow) dribbles the ball beneath stress from Jorge Pulido and Dimitris Siovas of SD Huesca at Estadio El Alcoraz on Sunday evening.
Lionel Messi arrange Frenkie de Jong for a purpose to assist earn a 1-0 win at Huesca on Sunday within the Argentine nice’s 750th total look for Barcelona and his five hundredth within the Spanish league.
The 33-year-old Messi trails solely Xavi Hernández because the Barcelona participant with probably the most video games performed. Xavi performed 767 video games in all competitions, together with 505 la Liga matches.
Messi’s newest milestone got here lower than two weeks after he surpassed Pelé’s all-time membership scoring file for Santos by netting his 644th purpose for Barcelona.
Barcelona dominated last-place Huesca however might solely handle De Jong’s purpose within the twenty seventh minute. Messi lobbed a cross ahead to fulfill De Jong’s run behind the protection, with the Netherlands midfielder steering the ball contained in the upright.
Coach Ronald Koeman stated the purpose was an instance of how he needs his midfielders to hitch the assault, particularly when Messi drifts out of the realm to turn out to be a playmaker.
“It was a great pass from Messi and a good goal,” Koeman stated. “And that is what I like from my midfielders. The spaces left by Messi or Pedri — we have to occupy those positions.”
Huesca goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández saved Messi’s two possibilities, stopping him from including to his league file of 451 targets. He blocked a free kick simply earlier than halftime and smothered shot from shut vary within the 68th.
Both Ousmane Dembele and Pedro “Pedri” González went near scoring and arrange teammates for good possibilities in a powerful first half by Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann solely went on as a late substitute.
Barcelona’s win got here after Messi sat out a 1-1 draw with Eibar final spherical to get well from an ankle drawback.
The victory moved Barcelona forward of Sevilla into fifth place.
Koeman’s workforce is 10 factors behind chief Atlético Madrid, which obtained a late purpose from Luis Suárez to win 2-1 at Alavés.
SUAREZ CLUTCH
Atlético was moments from enduring a setback towards an Alavés that performed with 10 males for nearly half an hour.
That was when Suárez got here by with the Ninetieth-minute winner. The former Barcelona striker scored from shut vary finishing a cross by João Félix shortly after Atlético had conceded an equalizer.

Suárez additionally helped Atlético take the lead with a Forty first-minute help to Marcos Llorente, who cleared three defenders outdoors the realm earlier than firing a low shot that deflected off a defender earlier than discovering the web.
Alavés misplaced defender Victor Laguardia with a straight purple card decided by video evaluate for a tough foul on Thomas Lemar. The hosts equalized within the 84th when Atlético defender Felipe discovered his personal web whereas attempting to clear a cross inside the realm.
The win gave Atlético a two-point lead over second-place Real Madrid, which defeated Celta Vigo 2-0 at dwelling on Saturday. Atlético has two video games in hand on its metropolis rival.
“We had the game in hand, we didn’t put it away, then came their goal,” Atlético coach Diego Simeone said. “The best part about today’s game was how the team handled the final minutes without getting nervous. The goal was a good one, with our No. 9 just where he should be.”
Simeone’s workforce has received 11 of its previous 12 league matches, with the one setback a 2-0 loss at Madrid 4 rounds in the past.
Alavés, which stayed in eleventh place, has one win in its its previous six matches.
BILBAO FIRE COACH GARITANO
Athletic Bilbao fired coach Gaizka Garitano after it defeated struggling Elche 1-0 at dwelling due to a purpose by Iker Muniain.
The membership then introduced it had reached an settlement in precept to rent Marcelino García Toral as Garitano’s substitute.
GIL BREAKOUT
Teenager Byran Gil scored his first two targets for Eibar to steer its 2-0 victory over Granada.
The 19-year-old Spaniard has impressed together with his dribbling, imaginative and prescient and passing abilities since his mortgage transfer from Sevilla this season.
Gil obtained his first purpose within the fifty fifth when he rushed into the realm to complete off a penalty kick that had been saved by Granada goalkeeper Rui Silva. He added a second purpose with a exact strike from outdoors the realm within the 76th.
SOCIEDAD SLIP
Third-place Real Sociedad was held 1-1 at dwelling by Osasuna, leaving it eight factors behind Atlético.
Sociedad, which led the league earlier this season, has only one win in eight rounds.