Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Messi absence no worry, Barca beat 10man Malaga

Ernestosay­s

- Agence FrancePres­se sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

LA LIGA Argentine star missed the game for the birth of third child, leaders go 11 points clear at the top MADRID:

Lionel Messi was away attending the birth of his son but Barcelona still had more than enough to beat 10-man Malaga 2-0 and move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga.

Messi was watching the game on a television in a hospital as Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho put the team two up inside half an hour at La Rosaleda, before Samuel Garcia was sent off in the 30th minute for a dangerous tackle on Jordi Alba.

Down a man and without a win in 12 matches, Malaga might have feared a rout but Barca settled for a straightfo­rward victory, perhaps with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 clash against Chelsea.

On Messi’s withdrawal, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said: “I found out this (Saturday) morning, before leaving home, I had already been called by the delegate of the club and he had told me the circumstan­ces surroundin­g Leo.

“We already more or less knew when it might happen. It wasn’t very difficult to replace him because I had a clear idea of how the game would go.”

Messi is expected back against Chelsea at the Camp Nou, but Valverde will have been delighted with how his attackers filled the void, as Suarez, Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele all delivered. In particular, Dembele’s brilliant turn and pass was bettered only by Coutinho’s flicked finish for what was a superb second goal.

“He has that ability,” Valverde said of Dembele.

“Today I think he had more success than at other times, but the good thing is that he always goes at the opponent, always challenges them, always tries to dribble, and we need people like that.”

The win means Barca extend their advantage over Atletico Madrid, who can pull the deficit On Ousmane Dembele’s showing

back to eight points with a win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Malaga, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

ZIZOU EXTOLS RONALDO

Earlier on Saturday, Zinedine On Messi missing the game

Zidane labelled Cristiano Ronaldo as “from another galaxy” after the striker’s double dragged Real Madrid to a 2-1 win over Eibar.

Ronaldo headed in an 84thminute winner at Ipurua, having earlier put Real in front with an emphatic finish. Eibar’s Ivan Ramis had equalised in between to give the home side hope.

But Ronaldo’s two goals mean he has now scored in seven consecutiv­e games and boasts a remarkable 13 goals overall in that period. The 33-year-old’s tally for club and country this season stands at 35 goals in 37 appearance­s.

“For me he’s from another galaxy,” Real coach Zidane said. “He knows that he will score. He is a different, special player. The statistics speak for themselves.”

Real move four points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Eibar stay eighth.

Gareth Bale started up front alongside the Portuguese, while Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, fit enough only to come off the bench in midweek, returned.

Modric was excellent throughout, the Croatian providing a sublime pass with the outside of his foot for Ronaldo’s opener.

“It’s true that after 15, almost 20 days, Luka came in and played a great game,” Zidane said.

“He is an important player for us and what he did, he did very well.”

Valencia remain a point behind Real and all but ended Sevilla’s hopes of finishing in the top four by beating Vincenzo Montella’s men 2-0. Sevilla trailed Valencia by eight points but that gap was stretched to 11 after two goals from Rodrigo Moreno sealed the win.

Today I think he had more success than at other times, but the good thing is that he always goes at the opponent, always challenges them. I found out this morning... I was called by a club delegate and he told me the circumstan­ces surroundin­g Leo (Messi’s absence).

 ?? AP ?? Lastplaced Malaga lost 20 at home, the victory boosting Barcelona ahead of their Champions League second leg tie against Chelsea.
AP Lastplaced Malaga lost 20 at home, the victory boosting Barcelona ahead of their Champions League second leg tie against Chelsea.

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