Suarez keeps Barca winning without Messi
BARCELONA, Spain — Luis Suarez is making sure Barcelona keeps on winning without the injured Lionel Messi.
Suarez came to the rescue of Barcelona on Saturday with a two-goal performance that included a 90th-minute winner to cap a 3-2 comeback at Rayo Vallecano.
Suarez's double gives him six goals for Barcelona since Messi went down with a broken right forearm on October 20. He leads the Spanish league with nine goals in 11 rounds.
"The game was very difficult for us, but we knew how to turn it around," Suarez said. "You can lose leagues at grounds like this one."
Barcelona increased its league lead to four points over Altetico Madrid, which drew at Leganes 1-1, and Alaves.
Madrid remained seven points behind in sixth place after beating Valladolid 2-0 for its first win in six rounds in the home debut of interim coach Santiago Solari.
BARCA FIGHTBACK
Suarez opened the scoring at Vallecas Stadium when he tapped in a pass from Jordi Alba, who was played clear by a long ball from Ivan Rakitic.
But the hosts swung the match in their favor when Jose Pozo scored from outside the area and substitute Alvaro Garcia put in a ball that came off the upright.
Rayo was winning until the 87th when substitute Ousmane Dembele drilled in a headed back pass by defender Gerard Pique. Suarez then scored his second goal to complete the fightback when he was left unmarked to stab in Sergi Roberto's cross at the far post.