Barcelona Triumph As Lionel Messi Makes 500th Liga Appearance

Barcelona gained 1-0 at backside aspect Huesca on Sunday as Lionel Messi turned the primary foreigner to make 500 appearances in Spain’s La Liga, whereas a late Luis Suarez objective secured leaders Atletico Madrid victory in opposition to Alaves. Messi returned for Barca after lacking the ultimate sport of 2020 with an ankle knock and swung in a cross for Frenkie de Jong to divert residence for the one objective on 27 minutes. Though Ronald Koeman’s aspect started a doubtlessly season-defining run of 4 consecutive away matches with a snug win, they continue to be a distant 10 factors behind Atletico in fifth having performed a sport extra.

“Usually, apart from the final 20 minutes we performed effectively,” mentioned Koeman.

“We created lots of hazard, which is not straightforward in opposition to a staff that shuts up on the again. We bought an important objective and we had two or three extra probabilities to drag away.”  

Barca dominated possession and created quite a few probabilities however Huesca goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez produced a number of positive saves to maintain the hosts in contact.

After De Jong’s opener Messi was denied a second simply earlier than half-time when Fernandez beautifully clawed away his free-kick heading in direction of the highest nook.

The Argentine was once more thwarted by the legs of Fernandez within the second half after combining effectively with Pedri, moments after Marc-Andre ter Stegen reacted sharply to maintain out Rafa Mir’s ingenious back-heel.

That was a uncommon menace from Huesca who’ve now gained simply as soon as in 17 tries this season however had taken factors off most guests to their Estadio El Alcoraz to this point, together with Atletico in September. 

“We got here out sturdy and really concentrated. It is the primary base we’d like. If we now have that, we enhance quite a bit with the ball and if we get higher in entrance of objective then we will have an excellent begin to the yr,” added Koeman.

Suarez the saviour

Earlier within the day, Suarez struck a Ninetieth-minute winner for Atletico as they defeated 10-man Alaves 2-1 to maneuver again above Actual Madrid on the high.

Marcos Llorente gave Atletico the lead at Mendizorroza shortly earlier than half-time with a deflected strike from simply outdoors the realm.

Diego Simeone’s aspect appeared to have the sport beneath management when Alaves defender Victor Laguardia was despatched off on the hour following a VAR evaluation for chopping down Thomas Lemar because the Frenchman ran in direction of objective.

Florian Lejeune headed in opposition to the submit for Alaves earlier than a spectacular personal objective on 84 minutes from Felipe threatened to price Atletico two important factors, the Brazilian centre-back drilling past Jan Oblak as he tried to hack clear an tried cross.

Nonetheless, Suarez secured Atletico’s fourth consecutive win within the last minute because the Uruguayan tapped in from shut vary after the ball was slotted throughout objective by substitute Joao Felix.

“One of the best factor is how the staff completed, not getting nervous, simply enjoying. And the objective was an important objective,” mentioned Simeone.

Atletico climbed two factors away from Actual Madrid and have two video games in hand on the defending champions.

“The takeaway from that is to proceed on the identical path,” added Simeone.

Promoted

Athletic Bilbao sacked coach Gaizka Garitano following a 1-0 residence win over Elche, with stories in Spain linking former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde to the vacant job.

Actual Sociedad misplaced extra floor on the highest two after they may solely handle a 1-1 draw at residence to struggling Osasuna, whereas teenager Bryan Gil scored each targets in Eibar’s 2-0 defeat of Granada.