Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Suarez, Messi, Coutinho on target as Barca rout Girona

- Agence Francepres­se sportm@hindustant­imes.com

MADRID: Luis Suarez hit a hattrick and Philippe Coutinho scored a brilliant first league goal for Barcelona as the La Liga leaders thrashed Girona 6-1 on Saturday to open up a 10-point lead at the top of the table.

Lionel Messi continued his return to goalscorin­g form with a double to reach 30 in all competitio­ns for the season, as Barca extended their advantage over title rivals Atletico Madrid, who visit Sevilla on Sunday.

Portu took advantage of hesitation from Barca centre-back Samuel Umtiti to round goalkeeper Marc-andre ter Stegen and slot into an empty net to put Girona ahead.

The hosts took less than two minutes to get back on level terms, though, as Messi collected the ball in midfield before sending Suarez through to score.

Messi’s wizardry put Ernesto Valverde’s side in front on the half-hour mark, after Suarez touched down a long pass from Andres Iniesta for the Argentinia­n. It looked as though the chance had gone when Messi was forced wide, but the league’s top scorer showed trademark footwork to jink past several defenders before slotting into the bottom corner.

The five-time Ballon d’or winner was running the show, and he doubled the advantage just seven minutes later with a low free-kick under the wall.

“It always seems that he has done everything and then suddenly, he surprises us again, as with his free kick. It sounds easy but it is not,” said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.

Barcelona’s fourth goal came on the stroke of half-time with Girona’s defenders left begging for the interval after Messi’s perfectly-weighted pass found Coutinho to square for Suarez to tap in.

The Catalan giants eased off slightly in the second half, but Coutinho got off the mark in the league in style as he cut inside and curled a long-range strike into the far corner.

French winger Dembele played his part too late on as he crossed from the left for Suarez to complete a hat-trick.

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