Messi, Suarez boost Barca

Seville (Spain), Jan. 22: Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona won 5-0 at Real Betis with five second-half goals to increase its Spanish league lead.

Ivan Rakitic also scored for the Catalan club, which moved 11 points ahead of Atletico Madrid at the start of La Liga’s second half.

After 20 rounds, Barcelona has a 14-point lead over thirdplaced Valencia, and is 19 points in front of rival Real Madrid, which has a game in hand.

After an even first half at Benito Villamarin Stadium, Barcelona gained control of the match when Rakitic opened the scoring after a breakaway early in the second half. Messi scored his first goal five minutes later and Suarez quickly added to the lead.

Messi’s second goal in the 80th was one to admire, with the Argentine entering the area and going past two defenders before calmly finding the net.

Suarez closed the scoring just before the end, reaching his 100th goal in 114 matches with Barcelona.

Messi, who has scored seven goals in his last six games, leads the league with 19 goals, four more than Suarez. The Uruguay striker has scored at least a goal in seven consecutive league games.

Barcelona was coming off a 0-1 defeat at Espanyol in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, a result that ended the team’s 29-match unbeaten streak. It remains without a loss in the league.