Barca blank Malaga
Move 4 points clear of Valencia, who thrash Sevilla
Madrid, Oct. 22: A controversial Gerard Deulofeu strike sent Barcelona on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Malaga as they stretched their lead at the top of La Liga.
In the second minute at the Nou Camp, the ball clearly ran out of play before Lucas Digne crossed for Deulofeu, who flicked it in with a superb backheel, leaving Malaga irate.
Barcelona struggled to break the visitors down as they searched for a second, which came in the 56th minute when captain Andres Iniesta fired a deflected strike home.
Luis Suarez missed a golden opportunity as the Catalans failed to score a third but still moved four points clear of secondplaced Valencia, who beat Sevilla 4-0.
“For me it’s legal. I believed it (stayed on), that’s why I continued,” Deulofeu said on Spanish television afterwards.
In the wake of protests in the city following the Spanish government’s move to reduce the autonomy of Catalonia, the atmosphere was charged.
However, things were much quieter on the pitch after Deulofeu’s opener, with Barcelona struggling to break down Malaga and even Lionel Messi finding it tough until he fed Iniesta for the second.
Suarez should have increased the lead when Sergi Roberto played him in but fired wide with the goal gaping, continuing a personal run of poor form with only three goals this season in all competitions.
Deulofeu teammate quickly.
“(His goal) will come, it’s the same as Leo (Messi). They are players who get a lot of chances, in the next game they will score,” said the former Everton winger.
Meanwhile, Valencia, continued their superb start with a pretty convincing victory after thrashing Sevilla with a 40 score at Mestalla. backed his to recover
— Reuters