La Liga leaders Barcelona traveled to take on Malaga in their Matchday 28 fixture but without star man Lionel Messi. The 30-year-old Argentine forward was exempted from the squad for personal reasons and it was later revealed on Saturday afternoon that he’s welcomed a third child.
Nonetheless, the proficient Luis Suarez stepped up in the talismanic No. 10’s absence to ensure that Barcelona’s unbeaten run still remained on track. The former Liverpool man opened the scoring for the visitors by heading home Jordi Alba’s cross inside the 15th-minute.
The feat means that the Uruguayan forward has now scored against all the 25 teams he’s encountered since moving to La Liga. His total goal tally against his opponents in the league now stands at 106.
Another ex-Liverpool player, Phillipe Coutinho, doubled the Catalans’ advantage before Malaga saw their night go from bad to worse with Samu Garcia being sent off for a foul in the 30th-minute.
