Barca triumph as Messi may make 500th Liga appearance
Barcelona won 1-0 at bottom aspect Huesca on Sunday as Lionel Messi became the first of all foreigner to create 500 appearances found in Spain’s La Liga, even though a later Luis Suarez target secured leaders Atletico Madrid victory against Alaves.
Messi returned for Barca after missing the final video game of 2020 with a great ankle knock and swung found in a good cross for Frenkie de Jong to divert home for the only aim on 27 minutes.
Although Ronald Koeman’s aspect started a potentially season-defining run of four consecutive aside matches with a pleasant win, they remain a distant 10 points behind Atletico in fifth having played a casino game more.
“In general, apart from the last 20 a few minutes we played very well,” said Koeman.
“We created a whole lot of threat, which isn’t easy against a team that shuts up at the back. We got an excellent goal and we had several more chances to distance themself.”
Barca dominated possession and created several chances but Huesca goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez produced several okay saves to keep carefully the hosts in touch.
After De Jong’s opener Messi was denied another right before half-time when Fernandez superbly clawed aside his free-kick heading towards the most notable corner.
The Argentine was again thwarted by the legs of Fernandez in the second half after combining well with Pedri, moments after Marc-Andre ter Stegen reacted sharply to keep out Rafa Mir’s inventive back-heel.
That was a good rare risk from Huesca who have now won only once in 17 tries this season but had taken tips off most visitors to their Estadio El Alcoraz up to now, including Atletico found in September.
“We arrived strong and very concentrated. It’s the key base we are in need of. If we have that, we boost a whole lot with the ball and if we progress in front of goal then we are able to have a very good start to the year,” added Koeman.
- Suarez the saviour -
Early in the day, Suarez struck a 90th-minute winner for Atletico because they defeated 10-gentleman Alaves 2-1 to go back above Real Madrid at the very top.
Marcos Llorente gave Atletico the lead in Mendizorroza shortly before half-time with a good deflected hit from just beyond your area.
Diego Simeone’s side seemed to have the game in order when Alaves defender Victor Laguardia was sent off on the hour carrying out a VAR analysis for chopping down Thomas Lemar as the Frenchman ran towards goal.
Florian Lejeune headed against the post for Alaves before a magnificent own goal on 84 minutes from Felipe threatened to expense Atletico two vital tips, the Brazilian centre-returning drilling beyond Jan Oblak as he attemptedto hack very clear an attempted cross.
However, Suarez guaranteed Atletico’s fourth consecutive win in the ultimate minute as the Uruguayan tapped in from close array after the ball was slotted around goal simply by substitute Joao Felix.
“The greatest thing is the way the team finished, not getting nervous, merely playing. And the target was an excellent goal,” said Simeone.
Atletico climbed two items free from Real Madrid and also have two games at hand on the defending champions.
“The takeaway from this is normally to continue on a single path,” added Simeone.
Athletic Bilbao sacked coach Gaizka Garitano following a 1-0 home make an impression on Elche, with reports on Spain linking ex - Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde to the vacant job.
Real Sociedad lost more surface on the top two once they could sole manage a 1-1 draw in the home to struggling Osasuna, while teenager Bryan Gil scored both goals on Eibar’s 2-0 defeat of Granada.
