Barcelona: Barcelona eased one step closer to the Spanish league title by winning 3-0 at Real Zaragoza on Sunday, as forward Cristian Tello filled in for the absent Lionel Messi with a brace. Thiago Alcantara put Barcelona ahead 20 minutes in and set up Tello to double the advantage in the 39th. The 21-year-old Tello then added another in the 53rd with a brilliant individual effort.
Barcelona increased their lead to 16 points over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who routed Granada 5-0 earlier. Madrid can reclaim sole possession of second place later at Athletic Bilbao. Messi was left off Barcelona's squad as he recovers from a right hamstring injury that he played through as a substitute to help Barcelona rally against Paris Saint-Germain and reach the Champions League semi-finals earlier this week.
The Argentine forward wasn't the only Barcelona player to take the day off. They played with only five of their regular starters, given that the league title is well in hand and several players need extra rest before its Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich begins on April 23. Even with a side full of reserves, Barcelona still had more than enough quality, above all in the playmaking provided by Thiago, to waltz around the relegation-threatened Zaragoza.
Thiago got things rolling by linking up with Alexis Sanchez on the break. He played the Chile forward wide before receiving the ball back and rolling a shot in off the far post before two defenders could
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