MADRID, March 11 -- The absence of Leo Messi after parenthood for the third time on Friday night was no problem for FB Barcelona as they cruised to a 2-0 win away to Malaga in the 28th round of Spain's Liga Santander over the weekend.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde used Messi's absence to hand starts to big signings Ousmane Dembele and Phillipe Coutinho and both responded to the challenge with Dembele setting Coutinho up for Barca's second goal of the game.

By then the league leaders had opened the scoring thanks to Luis Suarez, who with his goal in La Rosaleda has now scored against every side that he has played in the Primera Liga since his arrival in 2017.

Barca's task became much easier when Malaga midfielder Samu Garcia was sent off for a wild challenge of Jordi Alba with an hour still remaining in the game and in the second half they were content to conserve energy ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie at home to Chelsea.

Second-placed Atletico Madrid remain 11 points behind Barcelona after a 3-0 win at home to Celta Vigo.

Antoine Griezmann was given the award for player of the month for February before the kick off and celebrated by opening the scoring following a wonderful piece of control on the stroke of half time.

He then set Vitolo up for Atletico's second in the 56th minute, a minute after Celta had hit the woodwork, and Angel Correa sealed the win seven minutes later.

Real Madrid remain third after Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice away to Eibar in a game which Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane admitted they didn't deserve to win.

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