Messi rescues Barcelona
With the game deadlocked at 1-1, Lionel Messi came off the bench to play a part in two goals as Barcelona ran out 3-1 winners.
Leganes went into the clash with a glimmer of hope, having beaten league leaders Barcelona 2-1 in their last meeting. Such hope remained intact during the game's opening stages, in which Barcelona struggled to build any real momentum. Youngster Ousmane Dembele was the only player making significant inroads into the visitors' defence, impressing spectators with a succession of mazy dribbles. And it was he who made the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark, sliding home a Jordi Alba cutback to mark his eighth goal in 13 league starts for the Catalan giants. The wind seemed to have been taken out of Leganes' sails.
But the visitors came to life after half-time, and were soon level through a breakaway goal from Middlesbrough loanee Martin Braithwaite. And the 27 year-old almost had another minutes later, again breaking away from the Barcelona defence. This time it took a cynical foul from Sergi Roberto to stop him, for which the Spaniard was deservedly booked. It was clear the hosts were rattled, and on 64 minutes manager Ernesto Valverde brought on his star man, Lionel Messi.
It only took seven minutes for the Argentine to make an impact - his superb long range effort was parried by goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar, the ball landing in front of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan made contact with the onrushing goalkeeper's face as he prodded the ball home, prompting widespread complaints from the Leganes players. But the goal stood, and minutes later Barcelona put the game out of reach.
Messi started and finished a wonderful passing move, his right-footed shot curling past Cuellar into the far corner of the net, to seal a 3-1 victory. It was an important win for the Catalans, who go five points clear at the top of La Liga. Leganes, on the other hand, are living precariously, and lie just two points above the relegation zone.