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Messi comes off bench to help Barca beat Leganes

Win for Betis, Levante in Spanish league


January 22, 2019 00:00:00


SPAIN, Jan 21 (AP): Lionel Messi had to cut short a rare rest break to help Barcelona beat Leganes 3-1 and protect its five-point lead of the Spanish league on Sunday.

Messi came off the bench at Camp Nou with the score at 1-1 in the second half and set up a goal by Luis Suarez before adding one of his own.

In a month packed with matches and a Copa del Rey clash with Sevilla looming on Wednesday, coach Ernesto Valverde took the risk of leaving his best player on the bench against a Leganes side that had upset Barcelona 2-1 in September.

That move appeared to be the right one after Ousmane Dembele put Barcelona ahead in the 32nd minute.

Sergio Canales set up one goal and converted a penalty in injury time to lead Real Betis' 3-2 comeback over Girona.

Canales provided the pass for Loren Moron to make it 2-2 before he converted his spot kick after Douglas Luiz fouled Giovani Lo Celso.

Hector Moreno and Willian Jose each scored to erase a two-goal deficit and earn Real Sociedad a 2-2 draw at Rayo Vallecano. Levante beat Valladolid 2-0, while relegation-threatened Villarreal drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao.


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