Málaga: Caballero; Sergio
Sánchez, Demichelis, Weligton, Monreal; Nacho Camacho, Toulalan (Iturra
70'); Joaquín (Portillo 82'), Isco, Eliseu (Buonanotte 61'); Santa Cruz.
4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani
Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Fàbregas
(Thiago 72'); Pedro (Alexis 78'), Messi, Iniesta. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 27. Messi. Intercepted Camacho back pass and
rolled ball in to empty net.
0-2. 50. Fàbregas. Picked up lofted
Messi pass and steered shot in off far post.
0-3. 82. Thiago. Collected
Messi return pass and fired shot wide of Caballero.
1-3. 89. Buonanotte.
Curled free kick over defensive wall into top corner of net.
Yellow cards: Camacho 53', Fàbregas 63', Busquets 68'.
Barcelona beat Málaga 1-3 in the last match on Sunday evening, and at the midpoint of the season they have set another new league record of 55 points out of a possible 57. Willy Caballero did well to save from Messi and Iniesta before Messi intercepted a bad back pass from Camacho to open the scoring midway through the first half. Cesc Fàbregas fired a shot just wide a few minutes later, and five minutes after the break the ex Arsenal midfielder picked up a lofted pass from Messi before steering a shot in off the far post for the second. Only a finger tip save from Caballero prevented Fàbregas from scoring again, and with seven minutes to go substitute Thiago worked a one-two with Messi before drilling a low shot past the keeper for the third. Buonanotte did score a late consolation goal for the Andalusians with a well struck free kick in the last minute, but by then it was all over. The two teams meet again on Wednesday in the cup.