Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona: Luis Suarez stars in Barca win

By Lewis Dean

Sunday 21 February 2016 15:20, UK

Barcelona went nine points clear at the summit of La Liga with a 2-1 victory away to lowly Las Palmas on Saturday.

Goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar were enough to hand the visitors victory over a spirited home side who started the game brightly.

The Catalans stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to 32 matches and pick up a seventh straight league win, keeping them clear of title contenders Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Luis Enrique made surprisingly few changes, given his team have a Champions League match at Arsenal on Tuesday night, only choosing to rest Gerard Pique.

Barca took the lead in the sixth minute when Jordi Alba found Suarez at the back post for the striker to turn in his 25th league goal of the season.

But their advantage lasted just three minutes as Willian Jose held off the challenge of Dani Alves and slid the ball past Claudio Bravo.

Suarez should have doubled his tally for the afternoon but somehow headed wide from three yards after Messi found him with an inviting cross.

The Uruguayan then turned provider in the 39th minute when his cross to Messi was fired goal-bound, only for Varas to parry the Argentine's effort into the path of Neymar, who fired in from close range.

Quique Setien could feel aggrieved at the second goal being awarded after it appeared Suarez drifted offside during the build-up.

But the home side had ample chances to peg Barca back. Jose spurned a glorious second-half opportunity to level when he turned a parried Jonathan Viera effort into the side netting and substitute Sergio Araujo twice tested Bravo after he was brought on for an injured Viera.

Suarez thought he scored his second of the afternoon when he headed a Dani Alves knock goal-bound but Javi Varas pulled off a stunning safe to keep his side in the contest.

Lionel Messi flew to the Canary Islands fresh off scoring his 300th La Liga goal - the first player to achieve the feat - but the Argentine was largely anonymous and his afternoon was summed up when he failed to play in a rampaging Javier Mascherano in a late four-on-two scenario.

The final half-hour was anything but comfortable for Barcelona and former academy player Araujo spurned three chances, failing to hit the target each time.

The victory sends Barca nine points clear at the top with second-placed Atletico not playing until Sunday. Las Palmas can be encouraged by their performance but they lie precariously in 18th.

Speaking after his side's victory, Enrique said there was room for improvement ahead of Barca's trip to North London this week.

"I don't think there was a lack of rhythm," he said. "It was an effective performance. I am happy with what I have seen, but we can improve things. We had chances to close out the game."

"Today there was no lack of rhythm to the game. At some moments, given we were on the attack, we suffered more on the counter than is normal."

Goalscorer Luis Suarez was glad to leave the Canary Islands with three points. "You need to suffer if you want to win titles," he said. "The last two away trips have presented plenty of difficulties, but we've got the three points again."