Messi, Suarez on Target as Barcelona Routs Getafe 6-0
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Getafe 6-0 on Tuesday to stay on course to reclaim the Spanish league title.
Barcelona's ninth win in 10 rounds provisionally lifted it five points clear of Real Madrid before the second-place side hosts Almeria on Wednesday. There will then be four rounds left.
Messi converted a ninth-minute penalty earned by Suarez to get Barcelona rolling at Camp Nou before setting up the Uruguay striker's first goal.
Neymar was next to get onto the score sheet before Xavi Hernandez and Suarez both struck before halftime.
Messi scored again just after the restart for his 49th goal in 49 games in all competitions this season.
"When this team is playing at this level, it makes it difficult for any rival," Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.
Also, David Moyes' Real Sociedad fought back with 10 men for a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao in a Basque Country derby, while last-place Cordoba moved one step closer to relegation after losing 1-0 at Levante.
Messi closed the gap with Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo with his 38th league goal. Ronaldo leads the domestic competition with 39 goals.
Suarez also continued his strong finish to his first campaign with the Catalan club by scoring his 13th and 14th goals in his last 15 appearances, while Neymar netted his fourth goal in his three-game scoring run.
Barcelona's attacking trio broke the 100-goal mark for the season, with Neymar adding 32 and Suarez 21 to Messi's haul for a combined 102 goals.
Their goals have put Barcelona in contention for three titles this season. Positioned to dethrone Atletico Madrid in the league, Barcelona has reached a Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich and the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.
"I don't know if there is a key (to our success), there is the complete commitment of the team, our fans, everyone," Suarez said. "We are obliged to achieve important things and we are facing the critical stretch of the season."
Luis Enrique rotated his starting 11 with the pacesetters playing their second of three Liga games in an eight-day span as the season reaches its conclusion.
But with Barcelona's star-studded strike trio intact, Getafe never had a chance as the goals came in bunches to quickly put the result beyond doubt.
Messi chipped in his spot kick "Panenka" style to start the rout when Suarez was tripped by Alvaro Arroyo just inside the area.
After Barcelona goalie Claudio Bravo backtracked to swat away Fredy Hinestroza's lob, Suarez used an acrobatic effort to sweep in Messi's lobbed pass in the 25th.
Barcelona's pressure led to Mehdi Lacen losing the ball three minutes later, and Suarez laid it off for Neymar to cut back and slot in Barcelona's third.
Xavi curled in a long strike on the half-hour mark before he set up Suarez with a deft back-heeled touch, with Suarez using one touch to curve home his shot in the 40th.
Messi added his second two minutes after halftime with a strike similar to Suarez's, except he beat goalie Vicente Guaita from the right side of the area as he lifted the ball into the far side of the net.
Hinestroza was denied a consolation goal by the woodwork in the 71st. The loss left Getafe in 13th place, right behind Sociedad.
Bilbao went a goal up and benefited from an extra man after Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez was shown a straight red card for fouling Aritz Aduriz, giving the striker the chance to convert a penalty in the 52nd.
But left back Alberto de la Bella looped in a difficult shot eight minutes later to equalize for the visitors at San Mames Stadium.
Levante moved six points from danger after Victor Casadesus set up striker David Barral for the 41st-minute winner, keeping Cordoba winless in 16 rounds.
Source: Associated Press
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