Lionel Messi provided two assists but was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet himself as he hit the woodwork three times and missed a penalty.

First, Suarez tapped in Messi’s pass before Paulinho struck after the Argentine’s shot came back off the bar.

Suarez’s close-range finish made it 3-0 and Paulinho was again on hand to stab in when Jordi Alba hit the post.

Messi’s chance from the spot came just before Barcelona scored their fourth.

Suarez was fouled inside the box by Federico Valverde and, despite being on a hat-trick, he let Messi step up for the spot kick but the Argentina forward’s effort was kept out by Ruben Martinez.

The two goals for Paulinho, meanwhile, means he is on six for the season following the former Tottenham midfielder’s £36m arrival from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande in August.

Real Madrid were not in La Liga action at the weekend due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, which they won for a third time, equalling Barcelona’s record.

It means Barcelona are 11 points clear of Zinedine Zidane’s side ahead of Saturday’s fixture between the two sides at the Bernabeu (12:00 GMT).

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Source: BBC Sport

The post Suarez, Paulinho net doubles as Barcelona go six points clear appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The former Tottenham player, 29, is the Spanish club’s first signing since Neymar left to join Paris St-Germain in a world record transfer.

Meanwhile, Barca’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez will be out for “four to five weeks” after he was injured in the Super Cup defeat by Real Madrid.
He will also miss World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Paraguay.

Paulinho joined Tottenham for £17m from Corinthians in 2013, before moving to China in 2015.
He helped Evergrande win last season’s Chinese Super League and leaves the team top of the table in the current campaign.

Paulinho said: “You have to face challenges with courage. I will try to do my job and I am prepared.

It’s a very satisfying moment. The dream I have been looking for has come true. I will give everything.”
Barcelona are also keen on Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele.

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Source: BBC

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