Barca ensure it’s not Messi
Barcelona cruised to victory over Celta Vigo to restore their three-point advantage at the head of La Liga.
First half goals from Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi ensured Barca once again moved clear of Atletico Madrid, who had beaten Espanyol 1-0 earlier in the day.
Dembele opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Messi and Jordi Alba had linked up brilliantly to carve open the Celta defence. When keeper Ruben Blanco couldn’t hold Messi’s shot Dembele swept home the rebound.
Messi made it 2-0 with a terrific swerving shot after a fantastic Alba pass. Luis Suarez missed a great opportunity to put the result beyond any doubt on the hour mark when he flashed wide after being found by Alba with another fine pass.
Atletico saw off Barca’s city rivals Espanyol at the Wanda Metropolitano thanks to Antoine Griezmann’s 56th-minute spot kick.
In Italy’s Serie A second placed Napoli kept up their pursuit of leaders Juventus with a hard fought 1-0 win over struggling SPAL. Raul Albiol’s goal on the stroke of half-time separated the teams.
Third placed Inter could only manage a 1-1 draw at Chievo.
Bayern Munich served notice they won’t be giving up their Bundesliga title without a fight in Germany.
Less than 24 hours after leaders Borussia Dortmund claimed a vital 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern moved into second place.
The champions are now six points adrift of Dortmund at the winter break after a 3-0 victory away at fifth placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
Franck Ribery, who claimed the crucial winner in midweek against RB Leipzig, was on target in the 35th and 79th minutes. Rafinha claimed the third in the last minute.
RB Leipzig sit fourth after a 3-2 win over Werder Bremen with goals from Lukas Klostermann, Timo Werner and Bruma.
Max Kruse and Josh Sargeant replied.