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First Division - Day 21

Barcelona 3 - Málaga 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Xavi (Sergi Roberto 77’), Busquets, Cesc Fàbregas; Alexis (Afellay 86’), Messi, Pedro (Tello 60’). 4-3-3.
Málaga: Willy Caballero; Angeleri, Sergio Sánchez, Flavio Ferreira, Antunes; Tissone (Darder 80’), Camacho; Juanmi, Pablo Pérez (Pedro Morales 65’), Duda; Santa Cruz (Pawlowski 24’). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 40. Piqué. Turned ball in on far post after Alexis headed across Xavi corner.
2-0. 55. Pedro. Picked up Messi pass and cut in to curl shot wide of Caballero.
3-0. 61. Alexis. Steered shot past keeper on far post after Pedro passed across.

Yellow cards: Pablo Pérez 15’, Piqué 29’, Duda 30’, Flavio Ferreira 70’.

Barcelona put aside the controversy surrounding the resignation of club president Sandro Rosell midweek, beating Málaga 3-0 in the last match on Sunday to hold on to top spot. The game was preceded by a presentation to Xavi for his 700 appearances for the club, and the team captain tested Willy Caballero early on with a free kick. Alexis also hit the post in the opening minutes and Messi went close, and the visiting keeper was in action again to keep out Dani Alves, Pedro and Jordi Alba. Valdés had work to do at the other end though, in particular from a couple of Duda free kicks, but with five minutes to go to the break Alexis headed a Xavi corner across for Piqué to score his second goal in as many games. Caballero had to save from Fàbregas and Alexis either side of half time, and Piqué headed another corner against the upright, and soon afterwards Messi put Pedro through for him to score the second of the night. Six minutes after that Messi and Pedro combined to set up Alexis for the third, and after that Tata Martino took the opportunity to rest some of his key players and give a run out to Afellay, who was making his first appearance in the Nou Camp in 20 months after a loan spell at Schalke and a couple of serious injuries.