Messi, Dembele protect Barca’s lead before winter break

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

Messi took his leagueleading 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 he received a pass from Jordi Alba and took a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Ruben Blanco. The rebound fell to Dembele to drive between the legs of a defender to take the 10thminute 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 leftfooted shot.

“On the first goal I looked for ( Messi) like always, and on the second goal Luis (Suarez) and Dembele made runs to pull away defenders and left Leo alone,” Alba said about his role in both goals. “And Leo never misses.”

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.

“Iago is for us like Messi is for Barca,” Celta defender Hugo Mallo said. “Any injury (to a teammate) hurts us, but an injury to Iago hurts even more.”

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