MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 08:26:53| >> :120:22922:22922:
[monks data]
Attendance: 11,454
Leganes logo
La Liga
Nov 18, 2017 at 3.15pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-1)
Suarez (28', 60'), Paulinho (90')

Barcelona win at Leganes to extend lead at the top

A Luis Suarez brace and a last-minute Paulinho goal help Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Leganes at Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

Barcelona have extended their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points with a 3-0 win over a spirited Leganes side at Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

A Luis Suarez brace and a last-minute strike from Paulinho saw the Catalan giants claim maximum points, but the match was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests.

Nordin Amrabat caused the visitors all kinds of problems in the first half, and it was through the former Watford man that they created the game's first meaningful effort in the 20th minute, the striker swerving between Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic before firing wide of the far post.

After struggling for possession in the opening stages, Leganes grew into the game and looked dangerous on the counter, but they fell behind just before the half-hour mark when Paco Alcacer's cross was fumbled into the path of Suarez by Ivan Cuellar, allowing the former Liverpool hitman to scramble the ball over the line.

The hosts were almost level in the 35th minute when Amrabat picked out Alexander Szymanowski on the edge of the box, giving him the time and space to get a shot away, but Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen kept him out at full stretch to maintain his team's advantage.

Barcelona lived dangerously early in the second half, with Leganes threatening an equaliser on more than one occasion, but they extended their lead on the hour mark in similarly scrappy circumstances.

Substitute Aleix Vidal's initial strike was parried by Cuellar, but only as far as Suarez, allowing him to drill home his and Barca's second to give the table-toppers some breathing space.

Leganes looked deflated after the second goal went in, coming undone for the final time in the 90th minute when Lionel Messi's cutback was slid home by Paulinho to cap off the win.

The result leaves Barcelona 11 points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid ahead of Saturday evening's crucial Madrid derby, and seven ahead of second-placed Valencia in the standings.

ID:312176: cacheID:312176:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3873:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arda Turan reacts to a missed chance during the La Liga game between Real Sociedad and Barcelona on April 9, 2016
Read Next:
Barca 'to put five players up for sale'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!