Suarez sends Barca nine clear in La Liga
MADRID: Luis Suarez stole the show with a brace and an assist as Barcelona fought back from two goals down to win 4-2 at Real Sociedad on Sunday and restore their ninepoint lead at the top of La Liga.
Suarez struck in the 50th and 71st minutes, his first a delightful chip from just inside the area, after laying on Paulinho six minutes before the break to start the comeback from first-half goals from Sociedad’s Willian Jose and Juanmi.
A stunning Lionel Messi free-kick five minutes from time completed the comeback, which puts Ernesto Valverde’s side on 51 points, well ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, 1-0 winners at Eibar on Saturday.
“The goal we scored before the break really helped us,” said Valverde. “It seemed the curse was still there when we were 2-0 down, and yet we pushed and we believed we could turn it around and take the lead, and finally the goals came.”
The win also moves Barca a full 19 points in front of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who are languishing in fourth and closer on points to the relegation zone than leaders Barca after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Villarreal.
Barca went into Sunday’s clash having not won at Sociedad since 2007 and with 34 minutes gone it looked like the hex was going to continue.
“The negative run of results we’ve had at Anoeta has changed,” Suarez said.
“This ground is always difficult and we are happy with the result. Obviously we wanted to continue on the same path, knowing that here it’s always difficult to get something.”