Messi inspires Barca victory in empty stadium

LIONEL Messi scored twice for Barcelona in a 3-0 win over Las Palmas in a Liga match played without fans on Sunday following clashes between police and voters in Catalonia over a banned independence referendum.

Real Madrid later earned their first home league victory of the season by beating Espanyol 2-0 – with a goal in each half by midfield maestro Isco.

Valencia moved up to third in the standings, after beating visitors Athletic Bilbao 3-2.

League-leaders Barca tried to have their game postponed, but La Liga turned down the request – and the Catalan club announced 25 minutes before kickoff that the game would be played behind closed doors.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the stadium was closed to show opposition to police violence against voters in Catalonia’s independence referendum, which was banned by the national government.

Spanish riot police burst into polling stations across Catalonia to try halt the referendum on a split from Spain and injured hundreds of people.

Sergio Busquets scored the first time in the league for Barcelona in three seasons, leaping to head in a curling corner from Messi to give the hosts the lead in the 49th minute.

Argentine Messi struck his 10th league goal of the season to double Barca’s advantage in the 70th minute.

He barely celebrated, adding to an atmosphere more akin to a training ground exercise than a La Liga game.

In the 77th minute, Messi latched onto a great pass from Luis Suarez to pounce again, sealing Barcelona’s seventh straight league win and maintaining their 100% start in La Liga and the Champions League.

In Madrid, Isco made the most of a through ball from Cristiano Ronaldo to fire under goalkeeper Pau Lopez to put Real 1-0 up on the half-hour mark.

A lapse from Madrid captain Sergio Ramos in the second half allowed Espanyol a chance to level, but his blushes were saved by teammate Nacho – and moments later Isco wiped away the Catalans.