Barca closes gap with an emphatic victory over Las Palmas


Barcelona moved into second place in La Liga by thrashing Las Palmas 5-0 at the Nou Camp on Saturday.

Luis Suarez scored twice - his 101st and 102nd goal for the club - in between a tap in from Lionel Messi before Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal completed the rout.

The Uruguayan swept the Catalans into an early but controversial lead with a first-time right-footed effort in the 14th minute after he was found unmarked by Andre Gomes' pass from the byline.

Las Palmas could feel aggrieved at going behind to the strike after the supplier Gomes appeared to have strayed offside when he was played in by Vidal from defence.

Quique Setien looked to former Portsmouth and AC Milan striker Kevin-Prince Boateng for their attacking impetus but he spurned two good chances to claw the visitors back into the game.

The victory meant Luis Enrique's side leapfrogged Sevilla into second place and to within two points of arch rivals Real Madrid while the visitors remain eighth.

The hosts quickly got into their stride when a first-minute Messi corner spread confusion in the Canary Islanders' defence. Suarez flicked the set-piece towards the back post but Mauricio Lemos was there to head away from a prowling Turan.

He and Rafinha were combining well for Barca down the left but it was down the right flank that Las Palmas were exposed and the the first goal came. Gomes was unleashed by Vidal before pulling back an inch perfect pass for Suarez to steer past Javi Varas.

The goal settled Barca but failed to deter Las Palmas. A long ball by Jonathan Viera to Boateng soon after going a goal behind was inches too long when the striker had peeled off at the back post.

With 30 minutes on the clock and Barca failing to ad to their tally, Setien was forced to shuffle his back line when captain David Garcia picked up an injury.

Messi should have doubled the lead just before half-time but was denied by Varas's outstretched leg when he went one-on-one with the 'keeper.

After the break, Boateng had a chance to draw level but failed to direct his header from a Viera cross past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the Barca goal.

He was made to pay moments later in the 52nd minute when Varas parried a Rafinha cross into the path of Messi for the simplest of close range follow-ups.

Rafinha was involved five minutes later when he passed to Suarez who, with his back to goal, shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled into the far corner.

Turan compounded a miserable spell for Las Palmas when he slid into an empty goal after Varas saved from Suarez and it was already a formality when Jordi Alba combined with Vidal in the penalty area for the right-back to slot coolly into the bottom corner.

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