Barcelona: Luis Suarez scored a brace and Lionel Messi was also on target as Barcelona thrashed Las Palmas 5-0 with a ruthless second half display Saturday at the Nou Camp to provisionally go second and cut the gap with leaders Real Madrid to two points.
Uruguay international Suarez scored his 101st goal for Barcelona by stroking in Andre Gomes’ cutback in the 15th minute as the Portuguese midfielder recorded his first assist for the club since his 35-million-euro move from Valencia last summer.
Barca coach Luis Enrique had rotated his side after Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the King’s Cup, resting Neymar, Gerard Pique, captain Andres Iniesta and Sergi Roberto but still watched his side dominate Las Palmas.
Messi scored for the seventh consecutive competitive game by mopping up a loose ball on the rebound in the 52nd minute after Rafinha’s shot was only parried by goalkeeper Javi Varas, while Suarez curled in a pass from Rafinha to get his second and Barca’s third in the 57th.
Suarez spurned the chance to seal a hat-trick a minute later but Arda Turan mopped up after Varas had saved to score the fourth, while out-of-favour right back Aleix Vidal netted his first goal for the club in the 80th minute.
Arsenal triumph
Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez were both on target Saturday at Anfied as Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners over beleaguered Swansea City in the Premier League, sending their hosts to the bottom of the table.
Giroud, making a rare league start, put Arsenal ahead in the 37th minute when he stabbed home from close range after Mesut Ozil’s header deflected into his path. Second half own goals from Jack Cork and Kyle Naughton put the game out of Swansea’s reach before Alexis Sanchez volleyed home in the 73rd minute to wrap up the win.
Reuters
