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.
“We knew it would be a difficult game
given what we have come from and
what happened in the Champions
League,” Barca boss Luis Enrique told
Spanish TV station Movistar.
“It is clear that in some moments we
lacked confidence, but I think the team
turned around a difficult game in any
way we could.
“This time it was a penalty, but, given
how we are at the moment, that is more
than welcome.”
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.
– Barca booed –
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.
“For me jeering a player on your own
team makes no sense,” added Enrique.
And Ter Stegen called for unity among
the Barcelona faithful.
“We need the fans, above all at home, to
support us.
“We can win or lose together, but the
most important thing is that we are
united.”
Leganes had held out with relative ease
until Neymar took matters into his own
hands with a driving run into the area
before he was wiped out by Martin
Mantovani.
Messi stepped up and fired into the top
corner, but tellingly the Argentine
didn’t celebrate leaving his displeasure
with Barca’s performances over the past
week clear.
Leganes still had a late chance to level
as El Zhar sent another fierce effort
flying inches wide.
Earlier, Villarreal kept their hopes of
Champions League football next season
alive as Samu Castillejo’s 93rd minute
winner secured a vital 1-0 win at Real
Sociedad.
Just a second win of 2017 takes sixth-
placed Villarreal to within two points of
Sociedad and six of Atletico Madrid in
fourth.
Valencia moved seven points clear of
the relegation zone with a much-needed
2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Nani opened the scoring early on before
on-loan Juventus striker Simone Zaza
broke down in tears after netting his
first goal since May.
