Barca tops Malaga
Print Edition
Playing without the injured Lionel Messi, Barcelona needed Adriano’s long strike on Sunday to beat Malaga 1-0 and maintain a perfect record through two rounds of the Spanish league.
Barcelona kept Bernd Schuster’s team pushed back in its area early on at La Rosaleda Stadium but failed to finish its scoring chances until Adriano broke through in the 44th minute.
Gerard Pique used his back to deflect the ball off the crossbar for Barcelona in the 58th before Malaga finally dared to look for an equalizer it nearly found through 17-year-old Fabrice Olinga’s shot from close to the penalty spot that hit the post in the 68th.
Neymar went on as a substitute for the third straight game for Barcelona in the second half and shone with his dribbling, pace and a pair of shots that almost doubled the final margin.
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said after his performance, Neymar looks prepared to get his first start. “There is a difference between what we saw from Neymar today and the other day against Levante,” Martino said. “I don’t know how long it will be before he is starting, but in his head Neymar is ready.”
Messi bruised a muscle in his left thigh during last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
While Barcelona may still be without its all-time leading scorer for tomorrow’s return leg, Atletico warmed up by thrashing Rayo Vallecano 5-0 for its second victory.
Elsewhere, 10-man Celta Vigo won 2-1 at Real Betis while Sevilla drew 0-0 at Levante.
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