XtraTime Web Desk: Goals from Ansu Fati and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona extend their lead on top of the points table in La Liga. The Catalans cruised to their second straight win with a 2-0 win over Leganes at Camp Nou on Tuesday night. The win took Barca to 64 points from 29 matches, five points clear of second placed Real Madrid who have 61 points from 28 outings.
Lionel Messi now has scored 21 goals in the La Liga this season which is 7 more than the second highest scorer Karin Benzema who has 14 goals to his credit. The talisman is looking all set to win his 7th Golden Boot award this season. The Argentine now has scored 440 goals in the history of La Liga.
Barcelona coach Quique Setien made as many as 5 changes in the starting line up from their last outing against Mallorca with Ansu Fati, Arthur Melo, Ivan Rakitic, Junior Firpo and Clement Lenglet getting a nod in the playing XI.
The home team made a sluggish start at the Camp Nou as football returned to the venue after 101 days owing to the forced break in La Liga due to coronavirus pandemic. It was 17 year old Ansu Fati who gave the home side the lead in the 42nd minute. Messi played a ball into Junior Firpo, who fought off a pair of Leganes defenders before finding Ansu Fati who made no mistake with his right footed pile driver to find the back of the net. The teenager scored his fifth goal of the season and each of his strikes have given Barca the lead. Fati is now the fifth highest scorer at the club this season, behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Arturo Vidal. Both sides went into the breather with a 1-0 scoreline.
Setien made two changes at the interval, bringing on Luis Suarez and Nelson Semedo for Ansu Fati and Sergi Roberto respectively, followed later by Sergi Busquets yielding his spot to Arturo Vidal.
The changes worked as the hosts extended their league through a penalty scored by their inspirational captain. Messi fought his way past three Leganes players outside the box, but was brought down by compatriot Jonathan Silva inside the box, resulting in a spot kick. The Argentine made no mistake in giving Barcelona 2-0 lead.
The win gives Barcelona a five points lead over Real Madrid who returns to action against Valencia on Wednesday.
Other results in La Liga on Tuesday (June 16, 2020)
Getafe 0-0 Espanyol
Villareal 1-0 Real Mallorca