GOALS FROM LUIS Suarez and Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a 2-0 win over 10-man Villarreal on Sunday and restored their five-point lead at the top of La Liga.
The Uruguay forward struck with 18 minutes to play at the Estadio de la Ceramica before Messi added a simple second, ending a run of back-to-back draws in the top flight for the Catalans and keeping the title race firmly in their hands.
Messi’s goal saw him equal the record of 525 goals in all competitions for the same team in one of Europe’s top-five leagues, set by Bayern Munich great Gerd Muller.
Barca, held by second-place Valencia and Celta Vigo in their last two games, had not gone three games without a league win for over a year but found it difficult to break down Javier Calleja’s side.
Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique each hit the woodwork but Marc-Andre ter Stegen was called upon to keep the home side at bay, before Raba’s red card in the second half left Villarreal up against it.
The visitors had been short of their best but one moment of slick passing carved open the Villarreal defence and allowed Luis Suarez to break the deadlock, and Messi made the points safe with seven minutes remaining.
The victory again moves Barca five points clear of Valencia, six above Atletico Madrid and eight ahead of champions Real Madrid, all three of whom won this weekend.
Pique hit the bar after only three minutes with a header from Denis Suarez’s corner, though Ter Stegen had to be alert to deny Roberto Soriano from close range in an evenly contested first half-hour.
A Messi free-kick forced a save from Sergio Asenjo – back in the team in La Liga for the first time this season after recovering from his latest knee injury – and the Argentina star flashed another shot narrowly wide, but it was a pretty subdued display from the leaders in the opening half.
Villarreal were not looking too stretched by Barca’s approach play and Valverde responded by bringing off Denis Suarez for Paco Alcacer just before the hour mark, with the Catalans shifting to more of a 4-3-1-2.
Alcacer almost made an immediate impact, connecting with Jordi Alba’s low cross only to be denied by Asenjo six yards from goal, before Messi sent another Alba pass inches wide of the right-hand post.
As Barca suddenly looked to be in the ascendancy, Raba handed them a huge advantage, lunging into a challenge on Sergio Busquets on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area and catching him on the foot with raised studs, prompting referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea to brandish a straight red card.
Luis Suarez was inches from capitalising on that man advantage seven minutes later, nudging Alba’s cross onto the right-hand post with an outstretched boot, but the Uruguayan at last made the telling impact in the 72nd minute.
Messi started a quick passing move that saw the former Liverpool striker play a one-two with Alcacer, round Asenjo and slot home for his seventh league goal of the season.
Manu Trigueros brought a flying stop out of Ter Stegen but Villarreal killed off their own hopes of a comeback with eight minutes left. A loose pass allowed Busquets to feed Messi on the edge of the area and the Argentina star burst into space and slotted the ball past Asenjo, securing a 12th win in 15 league games this season.
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I don’t often support nordies, but this one would be an exception…..
@Jumperoo: They’re welcome to you.
@Jumperoo: Jealous?
@Jumperoo: Shock horror: Non Dublin supporter would like to see Dublin lose
@Jumperoo: bitter much
@Jumperoo: As a Nordie il be in the Dublin camp!
@Denis McGrath: Awww sore loser Denis?
Dublin for Sam
@Bruce Lee: very brainey,,
@Bruce Lee: not this year. Kildare put it up to ye on Sunday broke through yer defence too easy. Only for the too giveaway goals it could have went the other way.
@Finbarr Lucey: Your command of the English language is something to behold. Your teacher should be shot.
@Finbarr Lucey: dream on, Dublin had another gear and only used when they had to
@Finbarr Lucey: have a soft spot for Kildare hope they get a semi final out of the all Ireland this year but watching the game on Sunday, Dublin never came out of 1st gear, there was another level in them, once they went 9points ahead after 11 or so mins they just cruised, never felt they were going to lose. Can’t see past them again this year.
@Finbarr Lucey: come on now Finbarr that wasn’t even our best team
While I admire what Dublin have done and how they play the game their fans have being insufferable these past few years. You would swear no other team has ever won anything. I think the gap has also closed this year.
Tyrone VS Kerry final
@phil: Poor Phil
@phil: I see just as many bitter, mean spirited and jealous comments about us from fans of other counties as I do cocky remarks from our own fans…they’re all as bad as each other, if you ask me. We spent a lot of years watching Dublin come up short, so you can’t begrudge us enjoying seeing our county setting the standard for others. Good luck with your final prediction, but I’m not sure that Tyrone can stop them.
@Alan Morrissey: Best of luck Alan. I spent my childhood in Co. Cavan, surrounded by Dublin blow ins who sagged us off for playing GAA. Now the very same people are “Dublin die hard, life long fans”. I suspect it is them who are the biggest group insufferable Dubs.
@phil: listening to the pundits too you would also think no one else has either. Creating the dublin vs the rest if the country attitude on both sides.
Thinking too far ahead, a lot can happen in between.
@Frainc Ó Broin: The sport is unfortunately very predictable and the qualifiers on that side of the draw aren’t playing well.
@Rochelle: I think both Monaghan and Kildare would stand a good chance against Tyrone.
@Rochelle: Tell that to Roscommon
If and when they do meet( no disrespect to the other counties), I’d fancy Tyrone to suffocate that excellent Dublin attack. Can they convert at the other end though ? We’ll have to wait and see. My money’s on Tyrone..
@Harry Corry: I will have some of that with you, happy to take your money. Let’s go big.
@Harry Corry: That’s the big question. Or will they go into safe mode in the last 10-15 mins like they did in the league game?
@Harry Corry: I fancy the Dubs to take them. Jim Gavin has freshened up his team this year and I think they’re in a better position than last year when they looked jaded by August
@Brendan Farrell: they played Kerry in August last year, that game showed they were any but jaded. Fantastic game of football
Tyrone aren’t at the Dublin level, even if they suffocate the attack they don’t have enough to outscore them. Kerry are the big danger for them. Dublin winning 3 in a row is unacceptable in their world and they are gunning for them. There’ll still be some decent games getting there but it’ll be a thunderous all Ireland final.
Sam is staying put. Simples. Nobody is good enough to stop us. Fact.
@The Jacket: Kerry were good enough to beat them in the league!
@Sean Murnin: Hup the kingdom! Also if Dublin and Tyrone do meet, it will be a bloodbath, I’m one of those sadistic types that enjoys watching them batter each other up and down the pitch. Kerry for Sam though
@Sean Murnin: That wasn’t Sam though, Dublin have had Kerry’s number in the championship for the last 6 years…..we waited long enough for that to happen, mind.
@Sean Murnin: Because league form dictates how the championship is going to play out right?
@Ciara Baines: Well it has for Dublin from 2013 – 2016
I wouldn’t rule Kildare out against Tyrone if they meet. A couple of things didn’t go their way yesterday and I think they could cause an upset yet. Tyrone have the duvet to frustrate Dublin but this Dublin attack only needs a foot or two of space to cause damage. It would be some semi and could take it out of the winner ahead of a final.
It’s a mouth watering prospect. I reckon it’s set up for Kerry, safely on the other side of the draw.
There’s a reason why 3 in a row is so difficult to do. Dublin’s strength in depth could see them do it but I reckon the favourites would be Kerry, Dublin and Tyrone in that order.
@Cian Nolan: how could Kerry be possibly favourites.
@Phil Moran: well Dublin failed to beat Kerry in two attempts already this year. Kerry have won 3 minor ALL Ireland’s back to back and Kerry have the “easier” route to the final. So I can see why some people would favour them.
@TheSecretAnorak: the easier route can work against you. Kerry could be going into an all Ireland final without a real test against a battle hardened team
Hang on there, Tyrone beat Down, seriously when was the last time Down were competetive? Tyrone blew it against Mayo last year. They had 4 golden chances to level the game vs Mayo and missed each 1. So what suggests they can be serious challengers? I would like to see them challenge but the media are going into overdrive about them without any substance. 2 Ulsters titles on the bounce means nothing if you can’t make it past August.
Kildare could rattle.tyrone yet
Going by the headline neither team have to play a quarter final
Tyrone could certainly beat Dublin but they would need to be at their best to do it. I have nothing but respect for the Dubs. A great team but the gap has closed and i’m sure Tyrone would relish a match against them. Tyrone have it in them to beat this Dublin team.
Come on Tyrone
@billy Dorney: bitter rebel
I missed the quarter finals….I should have got sky and eir!
STUPID ARTICLE AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE 4 OTHER COUNTIES.
@Declan Brady: No need to shout!
@Ciara Baines: LOUD NOISES!!!!
@Thomas McGilly: No its not the other 4 counties don’t have a chance
@phil: It is, doesn’t matter if you would bet the house on em. A news article shouldn’t look past the next hurdle. It’s ok for us joe soaps on the bar stool to make assumptions.
@Declan Brady: dead right. Par for the course for this “journalist” I’m afraid.
The draw is nicely set up for Kerry to get through for another handy one
@John Brennan: yeah though they will be beaten in the final dublin has the edge better players in every position
C’mon T’rone!!!!
I’m a true believer in getting what u deserve dublin have the strength in depth to bet Tyrone but dublin have to up there game show that they want the 3 in a row and make history up the dubs
A tight game no doubt, tyrone will make it a dour affair and they will fancy their chances.
One game of top class hurling is better than a whole championship of this adulterated garbage. The biggest laugh of all is calling it football, there isn’t one half decent footballer amongst the lot of em.
@Leonard Barry: you were a serious footballer yourself I believe Len!
@Leonard Barry: until the injury got you!!