Messi, Suarez punish rival's recklessness

BARCELONA - Barcelona needed an overzealous tackle by an inexperienced Villarreal opponent to help keep its five-point lead at the top of the Spanish league on Sunday.

Barcelona was struggling to break down Villarreal until 22-year-old Daniel Rabaseda earned a straight red card for a studs-first tackle into the ankle of Sergio Busquets.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez took full advantage of the holes that consequently opened up in the host's defense, scoring a goal apiece to earn a 2-0 victory that kept Barca five points ahead of second-place Valencia.