Malaga 0-2 Barcelona: Barca warm up for Champions League tie against Chelsea with win

Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho scored as Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League last-16 meeting with Chelsea by dispatching La Liga strugglers Malaga 2-0 at La Rosaleda.

Suarez headed in from Jordi Alba's cross before Coutinho's exquisite flick put the game beyond the hosts before half-time, as Barca made it 35 La Liga games unbeaten on the Costa del Sol.

Samuel Garcia was red carded for a poor challenge on Alba after 30 minutes, and Malaga's relegation fears increased as they suffered their seventh consecutive league defeat.

Malaga remain 11 points from safety, while Barca increase their lead at the top to 11 points ahead of the visit of Chelsea on Wednesday.

The visitors coasted through the first half, registering 75 per cent possession, and should have taken the lead on 13 minutes when Ousmane Dembele hooked the ball in for Suarez to dart through on goal, but his strike was saved well by Roberto.

Suarez made amends for his miss just two minutes later, Alba taking his time to size up the run of the Uruguayan as he jogged in behind the Malaga defence to nod a perfect cross past Roberto.

And it was 2-0 just 13 minutes later, Dembele the provider this time as his low cross was delightfully back-heeled past the goalkeeper by Coutinho for his second La Liga goal for Barcelona.

Malaga's task looked insurmountable on 30 minutes when Garcia left his studs on the calf of Alba and saw a straight red card, but the hosts almost breathed life into the game when Youssef En-Nesyri headed into the ground and over from Manuel Iturra's fine cross.

Dembele struck a pile-driver midway through the second half which Roberto did well to get his body behind, and Barca eased up on their opponents ahead of Wednesday's last-16 clash with Chelsea at the Nou Camp.

Suarez curled a free-kick past the post in Lionel Messi's absence late in the game, as the league leaders moved a game closer to equalling Real Sociedad's 38-game record unbeaten run in La Liga.

Man of the match - Luis Suarez

Suarez oozed class and confidence against the league's bottom side, though in truth he never had to get out of first gear to run Malaga ragged.

The ease with which he split the Malaga central defensive pair for his goal was the sign of a player at the top of his game, and he will take his very best form into Wednesday's game with Chelsea.

What's next?

Malaga face Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday at 6.30pm, whilst Barcelona face Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday at 7.45pm.