Suarez keeps Barca rolling without Messi

BARCELONA, Spain — Luis Suarez is making sure Barcelona keeps on winning without the injured Lionel Messi.

Suarez came to the rescue of Barcelona on Saturday with a two-goal performance that included a 90th-minute winner to cap a 3-2 comeback at Rayo Vallecano.

The Uruguayan star’s double gives him six goals for Barcelona since Messi went down Oct. 20. He leads the league with nine goals in 11 rounds.

Barcelona increased its league lead to four points over Atletico Madrid, which drew at Leganes 1-1, and Alaves, which visits Eibar on Sunday.

Madrid remained seven points behind in sixth place after beating Valladolid 2-0 for its first win in six rounds in the home debut of interim coach Santiago Solari. BARCA COMEBACK

Suarez opened the scoring at Vallecas Stadium when he tapped in a pass from Jordi Alba, who was played clear by a long ball from Ivan Rakitic.

But the hosts swung the match in their favour when Jose Pozo scored from outside the area and substitute Alvaro Garcia put in a ball that came off the upright.

Rayo was winning until the 87th when substitute Ousmane Dembele drilled in a headed back pass by Gerard Pique. Suarez then scored his second goal when he was left unmarked to stab in Sergi Roberto’s cross at the far post. VINICIUS SAVES SOLARI

For a second straight game under Solari, Madrid turned to an 18-year-old newcomer to get a much-needed victory.

Minutes after replacing Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junio showed more verve than his fellow forward by darting past a defender and unleashing a powerful shot. His strike deflected in off Valladolid defender Kiko Olivas. The league credited Vinicius with the 83rd-minute goal.

Sergio Ramos added another goal from the penalty spot with two minutes remaining.