Messi, Dembele protect Barca’s 3-point lead before winter break

Spanish football

Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele scored first-half goals to help beat Celta Vigo 2-0 at home yesterday, ensuring Barcelona reaches the Spanish league's winter break with a three-point lead.

Messi took his league-leading tally to 15 in 17 rounds, including six goals in his last three matches, as Barcelona stayed ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Messi played a part in Dembele's opener when the Argentine's shot was saved by goalkeeper Ruben Blanco. The rebound fell to Dembele to drive between the legs of a defender to take the 10th-minute lead.

Messi made it 2-0 in the 45th after Jordi Alba found him arriving to the center of Celta's box completely unmarked to fire in a left-footed shot.

Celta lost top scorer Iago Aspas — fourth in La Liga with 10 goals— to an apparent leg injury early in the second half. The Spain striker walked gingerly off the pitch to the applause of the Camp Nou crowd, which included former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta.

Third-placed Sevilla trails Barcelona by six points before visiting Leganes on Sunday.

Fourth-place Real Madrid is eight points behind and had its match for this round postponed so it could play in the Club World Cup. Madrid beat Al Ain 4-1 in the final to claim its seventh world title. It won't play its league game against Villarreal corresponding to Round 17 until January 3.

After today's games the Spanish league stops play for two weeks.

ATLETICO GRINDS OUT WIN

Antoine Griezmann scored a second-half penalty to help Atletico eke out a 1-0 win at home over Espanyol, keeping the team coached by Diego Simeone right behind defending champion Barcelona.

Espanyol started well as Borja Iglesias drew two saves from goalkeeper Jan Oblak before Leo Baptistao hit the post in the first half hour.

But Atletico tightened up its defense and got the goal it needed from Griezmann.

Griezmann drove in a rising shot from the penalty spot in the 56th after Jorge "Koke" Resurreccion was fouled by Esteban Granero in the area.

Espanyol, which had risen to the upper part of the table, fell into 12th place after a sixth consecutive loss.