Sports
Messi, Suarez star as Barca return to winning ways, extend La Liga lead
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez each scored twice as Barcelona returned to winning ways with a 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis on Sunday to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga.
The Spanish giants fell 1-0 away at Espanyol in a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash during the week– their first defeat in all competitions since the start of the season– but bounced back at Betis.
The home side held on strong in the opening half, but started to trail on the hour mark when Ivan Rakitic slotted home to break the deadlock.
Read also: Real Madrid thrash Deportivo 7-1
Four more goals followed, starting with Messi’s explosive finish and followed by Suarez’s as he volleyed home Rakitic’s pinpoint cross.
Messi grabbed his second of the game 10 minutes to stoppage time with an assist from Suarez, who later completed the rout after he was teed up by Messi.
With second-placed Atletico Madrid playing a 1-1 draw at home against Girona, Barca are now 11 points clear at the top of the table, while rivals, Real Madrid sit on fourth with 35 points.
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