Getafe 1-2 Barcelona: Messi & Suarez kick 2019 off with three points

Getafe 1-2 Barcelona: Messi & Suarez kick 2019 off with three points

Barcelona moved five points clear at the top of the table with this hard-fought win

Barcelona moved five points clear at the top of LaLiga as goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez helped them beat Getafe 2-1 on Sunday. 

Getafe pulled a goal back form Jaime Mata, who later missed an open goal, but they were unable to turn things around at the Coliseum. 

The home side began the game on top and had a goal ruled out for a foul on Clement Lenglet in the build-up as they threatened a surprise. 

However, it was Barça who took the lead against the run of play when Messi rolled home after his initial effort flicked off David Soria's leg. It was the Argentine's 16th league goal of the season. 

Barca then grew in the game and doubled their lead when Suarez scored a stunning volley form outside the box, taking his LaLiga tally to 12 for the campaign. 

Getafe continued to probe, though, and will feel their goal before the break was deserved. Antunes cross was headed back across goal and Mata tapped in. 

The hosts pressed for a levelled in the second half. Mata missed an open goal after rounding Marc-Andre ter Stegen and the German then made a good save form Carbrera. 

Messi could have sealed things for Barça late on. Put through by Ousmane Dembele, his effort was saved by Soria. 

The Catalans held on to the three points anyway, though, despite not being at they best and are now five clear of Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Sevilla earlier on Sunday. 

Sevilla, meanwhile, are seven points off the pace, followed by Alaves and Real Madrid, who are nine and 10 points off top spot respectively.