Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele score as Barcelona beat Celta Vigo
Antoine Griezmann scores as Atletico Madrid beat Espanyol
Saturday 22 December 2018 20:53, UK
Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele scored as Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 2-0 at home on Saturday to reach the winter break with a three-point lead at the top of La Liga.
Messi took his league-leading tally to 15 goals, including six goals in his last three matches, as Barcelona stayed ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid.
The Argentinian played a part in Dembele's opener when he received a pass from Jordi Alba and took a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Ruben Blanco. The rebound fell to Dembele to drive between the legs of a defender to take the 10th-minute lead.
Real Madrid win Club World Cup again
Messi made it 2-0 in the 45th minute after Jordi Alba found him arriving in the middle of Celta's box completely unmarked to fire in a left-footed shot.
Antoine Griezmann scored a second-half penalty to help Atletico grind out a 1-0 win at home over Espanyol.
Griezmann netted in the 56th minute after Koke was fouled by Esteban Granero in the area.
Eibar came from behind to draw 1-1 with Real Betis.
Antonio Sanabria gave Betis the lead but Fabian Orellana levelled from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.
