Suarez hat-trick extends Barca’s La Liga lead

By AFP

February 26, 2018

MADRID: Luis Suarez hit a hat-trick and Philippe Coutinho scored a brilliant first league goal for Barcelona as the La Liga leaders thrashed Girona 6-1 on Saturday to open up a 10-point lead at the top of the table.

Lionel Messi continued his return to goalscoring form with a double to reach 30 in all competitions for the season, as Barca extended their advantage over closest title rivals Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid remain off the pace in third, despite a comfortable 4-0 victory over Alaves that saw Cristiano Ronaldo net a double and Gareth Bale back on the scoresheet.Portu took advantage of hesitation from Barca centre-back Samuel Umtiti to round goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and slot into an empty net to put Girona ahead in La Ligas newest Catalan derby.

The hosts took less than two minutes to get back on level terms, though, as Messi collected the ball in midfield before sending Suarez through to score.Messis wizardry put Ernesto Valverdes side in front on the half-hour mark, after Suarez touched down a long pass from Andres Iniesta for the Argentinian.

Messi showed trademark footwork to jink past several defenders before slotting into the bottom corner.Messi was running the show, and he doubled the advantage just seven minutes later with a low free-kick under the wall.

Barcelonas fourth goal came on the stroke of half-time with Gironas defenders left begging for the interval after Messis pass found Coutinho to square for Suarez to tap in.The Catalan giants eased off slightly in the second half, but Coutinho got off the mark in the league in style as he cut inside and curled a long-range strike into the far corner.

Earlier on Saturday, Real coach Zinedine Zidane hailed Ronaldos selflessness after the forward gave up the chance of a hat-trick by allowing Benzema to take a late penalty at the Santiago Bernabeu.Ronaldo, whose first goal was created by a magnificent Benzema flick, stood aside in the 89th minute to allow the Frenchman to convert only his fourth league goal of the season.