Barcelona won 1-0 at bottom side Huesca on Sunday as Lionel Messi became the first non-Spaniard to make 500 appearances in the country’s le...
Barcelona won 1-0 at bottom side Huesca on Sunday as Lionel Messi became the first non-Spaniard to make 500 appearances in the country’s league, while a late Luis Suarez goal secured La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid victory against Alaves.
Messi returned for Barca after missing the final game of 2020 with an ankle knock and swung in a cross for Frenkie de Jong to divert home for the only goal on 27 minutes.
Although Ronald Koeman’s side began a potentially season-defining run of four consecutive away matches with a comfortable win, they remain a distant 10 points behind Atletico in fifth having played a game more.
“In general, aside from the last 20 minutes we played well,” said Koeman.
“We created a lot of danger, which isn’t easy against a team that shuts up at the back. We got a great goal and we had two or three more chances to pull away.”
Barca dominated possession and created a number of chances but Huesca goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez produced several fine saves to keep the hosts in touch.
After De Jong’s opener Messi was denied a second just before half-time when Fernandez superbly clawed away his free-kick heading towards the top corner.
The Argentine was again thwarted by the legs of Fernandez in the...
