- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Leganes vs. Barcelona: Score and Reaction from 2016 LaLiga Match
- Updated: September 17, 2016
Barcelona front three Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar orchestrated a football lesson at Leganes on Saturday, as the Catalan giants ran out 5-1 winners against the LaLiga new boys.
MSN, as they’re affectionately known, helped themselves to a goal each before half-time to put Barca in a commanding position, before Messi notched his second of the game from the penalty spot and Rafinha added gloss to the result.
Leganes pulled a goal back late on courtesy of a stunning free-kick from midfielder Gabriel, but it wasn’t enough to spoil Luis Enrique’s day.
Barcelona headed to the Spanish capital fresh off the back of a thumping 7-0 victory over Celtic in the Champions League in midweek, yet a tricky tie was expected against Leganes.
Asier Garitano’s side have made a solid start to life in LaLiga, and their recent 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid showed that Barca could be in for a frustrating day at the office.
It started that way, too, as Leganes pressed high up the pitch and ensured Barca couldn’t click into gear.
Yet their attacking setup came back to haunt them with just 14 minutes on the clock. Barcelona launched a lightning-fast counter-attack after soaking up some Leganes pressure and worked the ball right to Suarez.
The former Liverpool star beat his man on the wing with ease before squaring an inch-perfect pass for Messi to roll the ball home.
The Argentinian had way too much time inside the Leganes box, and the Daily Mirror’s Ed Malyon was quick to offer the hosts a bit of advice:
Leganés may want to mark Lionel Messi when he’s in the penalty area
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) September 17, 2016
From then on, Leganes heads seemed to drop, as they backed off Barcelona and let them play their devastating football. And as every defence in LaLiga knows, the front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar need no second invitation.
On the 30-minute mark, Messi picked up a loose ball deep inside …