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Barcelona Hammers Deportivo at Camp Nou

The absence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system from Spain’s top flight appeared to cost Barca what would have been a stunning goal from Suarez
 Lionel Messi (L) and Luis Suarez, two most affective players of the match
 Lionel Messi (L) and Luis Suarez, two most affective players of the match

Barcelona eased to a 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday and restored its six-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, but lost Paco Alcacer to injury ahead of El Clasico.

According to Beinsports.com, doubles for Luis Suarez and Paulinho secured the victory for Ernesto Valverde’s side at Camp Nou, where Deportivo, which is battling to avoid relegation, offered little to trouble the Catalan giants.

While the host won with ease, the absence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system from Spain’s top flight, where it will be introduced next season, again appeared to cost Barca what would have been a stunning goal from Suarez in first-half injury time.   

Barca lost Alcacer to a muscle injury in the first half, leaving the forward out for three weeks and rendering him unavailable for the all-important showdown with struggling title holders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu next Saturday.

The match was played at a low-key tempo for much of the first half, but Barcelona was firmly in charge throughout and saw a Suarez goal ruled out for offside as early as the sixth minute.

The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute, when Ivan Rakitic’s corner was only cleared as far as Iniesta, who lifted the ball back into the area and picked out Messi perfectly. The Argentine in turn squared for Suarez to stroke home from close range.

The former Liverpool star turned provider for Messi to hit the crossbar in the 37th minute and it was 2-0 four minutes later, the woodwork this time unable to save Deportivo. A Messi shot struck the inside of the upright and bounced clear, but Paulinho was on hand to poke home the rebound.

Suarez thought he had netted a third in injury time, the Uruguayan conjuring up a brilliant finish at a tight angle, only for Ruben to claw the ball away. The presence of VAR might have seen a goal awarded in Barca’s favor, but the host had to be content with a 2-0 lead going into the half-time break.

Barca did not have to wait long for that third goal to arrive, though, Sergi Roberto swinging a pass into the back post for Suarez to smash past Ruben and complete a slick counter-attack just a minute into the second half.  

Instead it was Paulinho in the right place at the right time with 15 minutes to go, the Brazilian bundling the ball home after Jordi Alba’s shot struck the post and left Ruben stranded.

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