Barcelona restored their five-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the Spanish Primera Division standings after beating visitors Leganes 3-1 on Sunday.

Ousmane Dembele had given Barcelona a first half lead, but Martin Braithwaite levelled for the visitors just before the hour-mark.

Dembele would leave the match midway through the second half after suffering an ankle injury though.

Luis Suarez put Barca back in front in the 71st minute and Lionel Messi – a 64th minute substitute for Carles Alena – added a late goal to seal his side’s seventh successive La Liga victory.

He said: “The substitution of Lionel Messi, the players know. They are conscious of how many games there are and I know the players. We talk and see how each one of them is and whether they are 100 per cent fit or not and we want the best for them and I think it went well.”