Messi scores in 4-0 Mallorca win

Madrid: Barcelona scored 66 seconds into their return to action as Lionel Messi completed a comfortable 4-0 win at Mallorca in La Liga.

Arturo Vidal headed the opener and former Middlesbrough striker Martin Braithwaite added his first for the club before the break.

Luis Suarez came off the bench to make his first appearance since early January and Jordi Alba made it 3-0.

Messi scored his 20th league goal of the season late on.

Barca are now five points clear at the top of the table, and while Real will aim to trim the gap when they face Eibar on Sunday, this performance illustrated the size of their task to chase down the leaders.

The league’s coronavirus suspension had given Suarez, 33, time to recover after the Uruguayan striker underwent surgery on his right knee in January.The former Liverpool man looked sharp enough and went close on several occasions, almost scoring the game’s fifth goal in added time.

Results: Mallorca 0-4 Barcelona. Espanyol 2-0 Alves, Celta Vigo 0-1 Villareal, Leganes 1-2 Real Valladolid