Barca win, but just!

Adriano scored the only goal as a Barcelona side without the injured Lionel Messi laboured to a 1-0 victory over Malaga. The Brazilian struck the decisive blow a minute before half-time with a left-footed effort that Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero will have been disappointed to see slip through his grasp.
And Malaga were left to rue two huge chances after the break as firstly Fabrice struck the post and then Sebastian Fernandez headed straight at Victor Valdes when completely unmarked inside the area in the closing stages.

Despite Messi’s absence, Barca boss Gerardo Martino once again started with Neymar on the bench as Cesc Fabregas replaced the Argentine, whilst Alex Song and Adriano replaced Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves from the side that started Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first-leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Without either of their South American attacking stars, Barca’s build-up play was somewhat ponderous in the first period as they failed to break down a solid but limited Malaga side. Meanwhile, Turkey midfielder Arda Turan scored one goal and set up two more in Atletico Madrid’s 5-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, extending the team’s strong start to the Spanish league.

Diego Simeone’s team dominated the Spanish capital derby for Atletico’s second win in as many rounds before it faces the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup at Barcelona on Wednesday wit. Raul Garcia headed in his first of two goals at Vicente Calderon Stadium in the 17th minute.Turan passed for Diego Costa to make it 2-0 in the 20th before then scoring himself from a pass by Diego Costa in the 35th. Turan crossed for Tiago Cardoso to head in the hosts’ fourth goal in the 53rd before Garcia got his double in the 90th.