Barça make it six unbeaten in La Liga as Messi sets up De Jong winner

Lionel Messi set up Frenkie de Jong’s match winning goal as Barcelona earned a narrow win over bottom of the table Huesca on Sunday night.

The Barca skipper, on his 750th match for the club and his 500th in La Liga, came close with a free-kick that was tipped over as he took several pops at goal, but could not find the net himself.

De Jong’s strike was the only one of the game, in part thanks to a fine Marc-Andre ter Stegen save to keep out a Rafa Mir backheel.

Huesca keeper Alvaro Fernandez made good saves to deny Pedri, Messi, and Ousmane Dembele.

The latter started on the left wing as Ronald Koeman went 4-3-3 and it paid off with a fine first half display from the team. They were nervier after the break but managed to hold on for the win.

Despite the victory they trail leaders Atletico by 10 points having played one game more than their rivals, and are fifth in the table.

Huesca are four points from safety at the foot of the table and are in trouble.

“They are three very important points to start the year, but we suffered for them,” said Ter Stegen.

“We have to win these games, they define La Liga. We played well for 35 minutes, which I liked a lot, but then we should have killed the game off.

“It was a victory we suffered for, and it was very cold.”