BARCELONA, Sept 24 (AP): Girona succeeded in stopping Barcelona star Lionel Messi from scoring. If only it could have avoided its own net as well.
Barcelona made it six wins in as many games in the Spanish league on Saturday when it won 3-0 at Girona thanks to a pair of own goals by the hosts.
Barcelona went head in the Catalan regional derby when Girona defender Aday Benitez deflected Jordi Alba's off-target shot back into his net in the 17th minute.
Barcelona's Luis Suarez and Aleix Vidal helped provoke a second goal three minutes after halftime, when Suarez deftly let Vidal's dangerous short pass go through his legs, hit surprised goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz and turned into the net.
Barcelona increased its lead of the league to four points after Atletico Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 to leapfrog the Andalucian club into second place. Sevilla is five points behind, followed by Real Madrid at seven points adrift after it won at Alaves 2-1.
The decision by Girona coach Pablo Machin to man-mark Lionel Messi with Pablo Maffeo helped stop him from adding to his best ever start to a Liga. Messi scored nine goals in the first five rounds.
"I don't think that Messi was the decisive player that he usually is," Machin said.
Suarez rounded off Barcelona's victory in the 69th when he was left all alone to take Sergi Roberto's lobbed pass and beat Iraizoz. It was Suarez's second goal in six appearances this season.
The Uruguay striker had been struggling this season, hampered by a right knee injury and adapting to life after the departure of attack partner Neymar.
Real Madrid turned to new midfielder Dani Ceballos to help it get back on the winning path.
The midfielder made the most of his first start for Zinedine Zidane's team by scoring twice in the victory at last-place Alaves.
Barcelona get 6th win in 6 rounds, Atletico beat Sevilla
FE Team | Published: September 25, 2017 00:40:21 | Updated: October 20, 2017 09:51:33
Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Girona's Pablo Maffeo during the Santander La Liga match between Girona and FC Barcelona at Estadi Montilivi stadium in Girona, Spain on Saturday. — Reuters
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