Messi & African-Born Wonderkid Send Barca Five Points Clear
17 June, 2020
LaLiga
Report: FC Barcelona 2-0 Leganes
Date: 16 June 2020
Venue: Camp Nou
Seventeen-year-old Ansu Fati and Lionel Messi had been among the goals as FC Barcelona cemented major spot in LaLiga with victory above Leganes.
Blaugrana coach Quique Setién made a few changes from the weekend's thumping of Eibar as Ansu Fati, Arthur Melo, Sergi Roberto and Junior Firop returned to the line-up, while Jordi Alba was suspended.
Leganes must have been 1 goal ahead in the 11th minute after swift counter-attack caught Barcelona napping, but Guerreiro saw his goal-bound work cleared by Clement Lenglet.
The hosts enjoyed almost all of the possession but had to wait before 30th minute for an opening when Ivan Rakitic's cross found Griezmann, who steered his header large of the mark.
While it looked as though the sides would to the break goalless, 17-year-old Futi collected a pass from Firpo before drilling the ball beyond Ivan Cuellar from the edge of the container.
Fati wouldn't normally have any future effect on the clash, while the Guinea-Bissau-born attacker was withdrawn soon after the interval for Nelson Semedo.
Semedo's made his existence felt soon after as the full-back again latched onto Lionel Messi's pass befoe picking out Griezmann for the simple tap-in, however the goal was ruled by the Video recording Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside.
However, Barcelona had been awarded a penalty mins later immediately after Messi was brought down in the area by Jonathan Silva. The Argentine took responsibility and calmly slotted residence to dual the lead.
Riqui Puig almost put the icing on the cake for the home side in the final three minutes, but the 20-year-old had two efforts saved by Cuellar in quick succession.
Nevertheless, 2-0 was the way the encounter done as the Catalan giants moved five points free from Legitimate Madrid, who host Valencia over Thursday night.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za