We played seriously and that won us the three points.
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Another intriguing penalty decision looked as though it could cost the visitors in the second half, when Messi gave up duties to Luis Suarez only to see the Uruguayan fail to convert, but the former Liverpool man made amends with a fine finish to put Barca in control and subdue a vociferous El Molinon crowd.
“The Olympic Games in your own country is something special for any sportsperson, no matter what the sport”, said Luis Enrique, an Olympic soccer gold medal victor with Spain at the 1992 Barcelona Games. “But obviously I hope that it continues and we go 100 games without a loss”.
It will be a hard task for Las Palmas on Saturday considering how well Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have been playing.
Suarez had the first chance to extend his lead as the league’s top scorer from Neymar’s inch-perfect pass, but the Uruguayan fired straight at Ivan Cuellar.
That was the sign for the game to spring to life as Messi slotted home a left foot shot from outside of the penalty area to give the league leaders the lead in the 25th minute with the 300th league goal of his incredible career.
Yet, the lead lasted only two minutes as a brilliant counter-attack saw Pablo Perez pick out Alex Menendez on the left and his low cross was swept home at the back post by Carlos Castro.
Messi also scored Barcelona’s 9,000th goal against Almeria in March of 2010.
BARCELONA, Barcelona will consider what is best for Neymar when they decide whether to release their Brazilian star for the Olympic soccer tournament at the Rio Games – just as they did for Lionel Messi in 2008, coach Luis Enrique said on Friday.
Neymar was awarded a 62nd-minute spot kick when he was brought down by Cuellar but the goalkeeper dived to his right to save Suarez’s effort, the seventh penalty miss by a Barca player this season.
Barca have now missed eight of their 16 penalties this season.
Madrid: Spanish football club Barcelona have little time to rest as they look to increasing their lead at the top of La Liga this weekend. Even more so with the modest Canary Islands club struggling and fighting against relegation. Now it’s Las Palmas’ turn to try to stop Luis Enrique’s side and its thriving trio of forwards. Barca now have 60 points from 24 matches, six more than second- placed Atletico Madrid and seven ahead of Real Madrid.
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The result leaves Madrid rivals Atletico and Real with all to do in the title race and Enrique admitted Barcelona were in an ideal position.
