Messi goal ensures Barcelona go back to the summit

LIONEL MESSI scored for the first time at the Wanda Metropolitano to lift Barcelona to the top of LaLiga with a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. Barca hit the crossbar and Atletico struck a post, while Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Jan Oblak showed why they are two of the best goalkeepers in the world as the game appeared to be heading for a draw.

But Messi had other ideas in the 85th minute, beating Oblak with a composed finish from the edge of the area to ensure Barca leapfrogged Real Madrid at the summit on goal difference.

Real Madrid scraped to victory away to Alaves on Saturday, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal scoring either side of a Lucas Perez penalty.

Gareth Bale was drafted in for a first start since early October, but it was Ramos who broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, glancing a header home from a Toni Kroos free-kick. Ramos soon became the villain, however, when his push in the face of Joselu earned him a yellow card and the hosts a penalty.

Perez made no mistake from the spot, but Real were soon back in front.

Floated

Luka Modric floated the ball in from the right. Isco’s header at the back post came back off the woodwork and Carvajal bundled the ball home.

In Italy, Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan are top of Serie A after a 2-1 win over SPAL.

Juventus’s 2-2 draw against Sassuolo offered Inter the opportunity to take top spot and they took full advantage.

Lautaro Martinez gave the hosts the lead after 16 minutes and doubled the advantage in the 41st. Mattia Valoti got SPAL on the board early in the second half but they couldn’t find an equaliser. Inter are now a point clear of Juventus at the Serie A summit.

Elsewhere, Hans-Dieter Flick lost his first game as Bayern Munich manager, at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

Leon Bailey put the visitors in front after just 10 minutes and did so again in the 35th minute, a mere 60 seconds after Thomas Muller had equalised for Bayern.

Bayern are now a point off surprise leaders Borussia Monchengladbach, who went top with victory over Freiburg.

PSG’s clash with Monaco was postponed due to bad weather. France’s two traditional rivals were scheduled to meet yesterday, but fears of floods in Monaco saw the match cancelled.