Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barcelona's teenage forward Ansu Fati and all-time top scorer Lionel Messi were on target as they beat bottom club Leganes 2-0 at an empty Camp Nou on Tuesday to maintain their perfect start since the season resumed after its three-month hiatus.
La Liga leaders Barca were far from their best and could have gone behind on two occasions before 17-year-old Fati put them ahead in the 43rd minute, firing through the legs of a defender and into the bottom corner for his fifth league goal of the season.
Messi doubled Quique Setien's side's advantage from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, almost immediately after Antoine Griezmann had a goal ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Leganes' Ruben Perez, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert Gea
It was Messi's 56th converted penalty in La Liga and saw him draw level with Hugo Sanchez as the league's second-top penalty taker, behind record holder Cristiano Ronaldo on 61.
Barca lead the standings on 64 points after 29 games, five ahead of nearest challengers Real Madrid who are in action at home to Valencia on Thursday. Leganes meanwhile are bottom with 23 points.
"It's important to keep winning although we need to play with more speed than we did today but we've got six points and we're going to get better in each game," said Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Sergi Roberto in action with Leganes' Unai Bustinza, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert Gea
"All teams have a lot at stake at this stage so we expected a tough game, they made it difficult for us to find space and they committed a few fouls but things got easier as the game went on."
Barca had enjoyed a dream return to action by thumping Real Mallorca 4-0 while Leganes were beaten at home by Real Valladolid in their first game back but the minnows produced a brave display and should have made more of their bright start.
Barca defender Clement Lenglet had to scramble clear a shot from Leganes forward Miguel Angel Guerrero early in the game and moments later Guerrero struck the post from a tight angle.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann in action with Leganes' Guido Carrillo, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barca's Camp Nou is far from the most atmospheric of stadiums in Spain but this time there were no fans at all to give the team a boost as spectators are currently barred from all La Liga matches for safety reasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 99,000-capacity arena last stood empty for a league game when Las Palmas visited in a 2017 fixture which was played without fans as a protest against a police crackdown during Catalonia's banned referendum on independence.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert Gea
(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Leganes' Aitor Ruibal in action with Barcelona's Arthur, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Leganes' Ruben Perez, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Arthur in action with Leganes' Chidozie Awaziem, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Leganes' Jonathan Silva, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona coach Quique Setien talks to his players during a drinks break, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates a goal with Lionel Messi before it is disallowed by VAR, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona's Anssumane Fati celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Leganes - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - June 16, 2020 Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu wears a mask as he watches from the stands, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Albert Gea
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