BARCELONA: Barcelona needed an overzealous tackle by an inexperienced Villarreal opponent to help keep their five-point lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday.

Barca were struggling to break down Villarreal until 22-year-old Daniel Rabaseda earned a direct red card for a studs-first tackle into the ankle of Sergio Busquets.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez took full advantage of the holes that opened up in the hosts’ defence, scoring twice to give Barcelona a 2-0 win away from home.

“We were in control and the sending-off completely changed the match,” Villarreal coach Javier Calleja said. “He tried to go for the ball and arrived late. It was a foul, but I don’t think it was a red. It is easier to send off young players.”

Suarez broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, rounding goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo to complete a move of quick passes by Messi, Jordi Alba and substitute Paco Alcacer before Messi blasted home a second 11 minutes later to get the Catalans back to winning ways after successive draws with Valencia and Celta Vigo.

“In the second half after the sending-off we had more chances to win the game,” Suarez told Movistar TV.

“They played a very good game tactically and we weren’t precise enough, but in the second half we came out with a different mentality to take the three points.”

Valencia remain Barca’s closest challengers five points back, but Atletico Madrid also maintained their title charge with a 1-0 win at Real Betis after a goal by Saul Niguez to stay six points off the top.

Real Madrid are eight points behind in fourth and Barca will have the chance to go into El Clasico away at Real in two weeks’ time with an 11-point lead over their rivals.

Barca host Deportivo la Coruna next weekend, whilst Real are in action at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2017