MADRID, Sep 27: Wearing the No. 10 jersey that used to belong to Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati made a triumphant return from a long injury layoff on Sunday, scoring a goal and giving Barcelona fans hope for the future.
Fati, who hadn’t played in more than 10 months because of a knee injury, scored in stoppage time to seal a 3-0 Spanish league win over Levante that helped ease some of the pressure on Barcelona following a three-match winless streak.
The 18-year-old Fati was loudly cheered by the crowd at the Camp Nou Stadium when he entered the match in the 81st minute, then profusely celebrated after scoring with a low shot.
It was Fati’s 14th goal in 44 matches with Barcelona, and his first since the “clásico” against Real Madrid at Camp Nou last October.
Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong had each scored in the first 15 minutes of the match to put Barcelona on its way to its first victory since the demoralizing 3-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League two weeks ago.
Barcelona is now sixth, five points behind leader Real Madrid with a game in hand.
Rayo Vallecano win 3-1 vs cadiz
Colombia veteran Radamel Falcão scored his third goal in his third match since joining promoted Rayo Vallecano, helping his team beat visiting Cádiz 3-1.
SOCIEDAD MOVES
to 2ND place
Mikel Oyarzabal sored an 81st-minute winner as Real Sociedad beat Elche 1-0 at home to move to second, within a point of Madrid.
OTHER RESULTS
Seventh-placed Real Betis defeated bottom side Getafe 2-0 with Willian José scoring a goal in each half.
Also, Osasuna beat Mallorca 3-2. (AP)
