Barcelona see off Malaga without Lionel Messi

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to 11 points with a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Malaga despite missing Lionel Messi.

The Argentinean was absent from Ernesto Valverde’s matchday squad for the trip to La Rosaleda due to the birth of his third child, but the Catalans barely missed him, with Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele all filling the void.

Suarez scored the opener after 15 minutes, getting on the end of a wicked delivery from Jordi Alba. From that point on, the Liga pace-setters never looked back, with Coutinho adding a second before the half-hour mark, flicking home a clever finish.

Samuel was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Alba seconds after Barcelona’s second goals, reducing Malaga to 10 men and eliminating any chance they had of a fightback. The result puts Barca 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, with Diego Simeone’s side to play on Sunday.

There’s no denying that Dembele has struggled since joining Barcelona last summer, but there have been signs of late that the young Frenchman is beginning to feel more at ease at his new club. This was just another sign of that. Dembele gave Barcelona threat from his position on the wide right and was unfortunate not to finish the game with a goal. He’s getting there.

He is enjoying his best season so far as a Barcelona player and this Alba turned in another impressive performance in this comfortable win over Malaga. Suarez scored the Catalans’ opener from an exceptional cross from the Spanish international, and the left back provided an outlet throughout. The majority of Barcelona’s play come down the left side and much of that was down to Alba’s quality.

Malaga - Roberto 7, Rosales 6, Hernandez 6, Ricca 6, Samu 4, Iturra 5, Lacen 5, Chory 5, Rolan 5, El-Nesyri 5. Subs - Ideye 5, Lestienne 6, Success 4.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 5, Roberto 6, Umtiti 6 Pique 6, Alba 8, Busquets 5, Rakitic 5, Paulinho 6, Dembele 8, Suarez 8, Coutinho 8. Subs - Digne 5, Vidal 4, Gomes 4.

13’ GREAT SAVE! Suarez jinks inside and then outside to free up the space just inside the Malaga box. He strikes at goal, but Roberto gets a strong right hand to the effort. What a stop.

15’ GOAL! Malaga 0-1 Barcelona: There's the opener! It had been coming. Alba played a wicked cross into the box, asking the question of Suarez and the striker heads home into the back of the net. What a goal.

28’ GOAL! Malaga 0-2 Barcelona: Barcelona double their advantage and in what style! Dembele directed a low cross into Coutinho and the Brazilian playmaker directs a flicked finish past Roberto in the Malaga goal. Sensational.

29’ SENT OFF! That was a stupid challenge from Samuel. He didn't need to do that on Alba. He can have no complaints about that. What a dangerous tackle.

38’ HE SHOULD SCORE! That should have been a Malaga goal. The cross was set up perfectly for El-Nesyri, bu from about three yards out he somehow heads wide of the post.

88’ THAT WAS CLOSE! Coutinho looked to be clean through on Roberto in the Malaga goal after a wonderful chipped pass by Suarez, but Ricca makes the sliding challenge at the last gasp.