Soccer

Controversial Deulofeu goal helps Barca beat Malaga

Ball had clearly gone out of play before it was crossed for opening goal

Barcelona’s Gerard Deulofeu scores their first goal as Malaga players protest that the ball had gone out of play before it was crossed. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters
Barcelona’s Gerard Deulofeu scores their first goal as Malaga players protest that the ball had gone out of play before it was crossed. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters
Sat Oct 21 2017 - 21:53

Barcelona 2 Malaga 0

A controversial Gerard Deulofeu strike sent Barcelona on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Malaga as they stretched their lead at the top of La Liga.

In the second minute at the Nou Camp, the ball clearly ran out of play before Lucas Digne crossed for Deulofeu, who flicked it in off a superb backheel, leaving Malaga irate.

Barcelona struggled to break the visitors down as they searched for a second, which came in the 56th minute when captain Andres Iniesta fired home with the help of a deflection.

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Luis Suarez missed a golden opportunity when set up by Sergi Roberto as the Catalans failed to score a third but still moved four points clear of second-placed Valencia.