Messi penalty rescues Barca

AFP, MADRID: Barcelona needed a last minute Lionel Messi penalty to see off lowly Leganes 2-1 as a poor week for the Spanish champions continued on Sunday.
Barca were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday to leave their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread and had to rely on Messi for snatching all three points from another below par display.
The Argentine opened the scoring after just four minutes, but Leganes enjoyed the better of the chances and levelled 19 minutes from time through Unai Lopez.
However, Messi ensured Barca did move back up to second in La Liga and close to within a point of leaders Real Madrid, who have two games in hand, from the spot after Neymar had been chopped down inside the area.
Leganes remain just two points above the relegation zone as their winless run extends to 13 games.
Barca looked set for an easy night when Luis Suarez found space in behind the Leganes defence and his pinpoint cross with the outside of his right foot picked out Messi to tap home early on.
Instead, Barca were thankful to a series of brilliant saves by Marc-Andre ter Stegen for keeping Leganes at bay.
The German denied former Liverpool winger Nabil El Zhar in a one-on-one before flying low to his left to parry El Zhar's follow-up effort.
El Zhar came close again with the last action of the first-half as this time his shot from the edge of the area was deflected and forced Ter Stegen into a fine reflex stop.
However, for all his good work, Ter Stegen was at fault when Leganes did deservedly level as Lopez's effort from the edge of the area flew in between his legs.
The equaliser was met with a chorus of boos by the lowest La Liga attendance at the Camp Nou this season.
And there was an even angrier reception for the much maligned Andre Gomes when he was replaced by Andres Iniesta moments later.

Messi penalty rescues Barca

AFP, MADRID: Barcelona needed a last minute Lionel Messi penalty to see off lowly Leganes 2-1 as a poor week for the Spanish champions continued on Sunday. Barca were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday to leave their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread and had to rely on Messi for snatching all three points from another below par display. The Argentine opened the scoring after just four minutes, but Leganes enjoyed the better of the chances and levelled 19 minutes from time through Unai Lopez. However, Messi ensured Barca did move back up to second in La Liga and close to within a point of leaders Real Madrid, who have two games in hand, from the spot after Neymar had been chopped down inside the area. Leganes remain just two points above the relegation zone as their winless run extends to 13 games. Barca looked set for an easy night when Luis Suarez found space in behind the Leganes defence and his pinpoint cross with the outside of his right foot picked out Messi to tap home early on. Instead, Barca were thankful to a series of brilliant saves by Marc-Andre ter Stegen for keeping Leganes at bay. The German denied former Liverpool winger Nabil El Zhar in a one-on-one before flying low to his left to parry El Zhars follow-up effort. El Zhar came close again with the last action of the first-half as this time his shot from the edge of the area was deflected and forced Ter Stegen into a fine reflex stop. However, for all his good work,Ter Stegen was at fault when Leganes did deservedly level as Lopezs effort from the edge of the area flew in between his legs. The equaliser was met with a chorus of boos by the lowest La Liga attendance at the Camp Nou this season. And there was an even angrier reception for the much maligned Andre Gomes when he was replaced by Andres Iniesta moments later.