Lionel Messi gets 8 on his 500th La Liga appearance: Barcelona player ratings at Huesca

Barca earn comfortable win at bottom club but still 10 points behind Atletico

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  BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 - Comfortable on the rare occasion he was called on in the Huescan chill. Didn’t face a single attempt on his goal until a 62nd minute back- heel on target, while his own side made 14 up to that point. AFP

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  Sergino Dest, 6 - Attacked down the right and had plenty of space as Huesca defended. Could play like a Daniel Alves style one man right wing. With right back Sergi Roberto out, brought off to try another option at right back in Mingueza. AFP

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  Ronald Araujo, 7 - Still doing well for the injured Gerard Pique, but how much does a central defender do for an attacking side which had 73 per cent of possession? The 21-year old was untroubled until the final 10 minutes when the home side enjoyed their only spell of pressure. Important late interception. AFP

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  Clement Lenglet, 6 - It was safest game he’ll play – against a side who are bottom and four points from safety. A training session until that last few minutes of gentle pressure. AFP

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  Jordi Alba, 7 - More involved with more touches than any player on the pitch. Back and effective as his team moved up to fifth ahead of Sevilla with three points. Fifth isn’t where Barca want to be, but it’s now six games without defeat and players who’ve been out like Alba are now coming back. AFP

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  Frenkie De Jong, 6 - Put Barca in front after 26 minutes with a blindside run and neat finish from Messi’s clever ball over the top of the defence. Involved in three goals in his last five starts for Barca. EPA

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  Sergio Busquets, 6 - Such was Barça’s dominance; he could push more forward than usual. Lovely ball forward nearly found Messi for second. AFP

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  Pedri, 7 - Looked for Dembele’s runs and openings in a very deep Huesca defence. Combined well with Messi, especially in the first half. AFP

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  Lionel Messi, 8 - Back to make his 750th Barça appearance and 500th La Liga game. Set up De Jong for Barça’s opener with a lofted, accurate, ball over the defence - his 200th assist in those league games. Free-kick tipped over just before half time. Eight shots on target, but spent much of game trying to find balls around Huesca’s eight-man defence. Created chances from nothing, but Huesca goalkeeper Fernandez was excellent. Reuters

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  Ousmane Dembele, 8 - Started on left and just as lively and rapid as he was in the last game at home to Eibar. Ran onto balls and beat defenders for pace. Needs minutes and positive performances. EPA

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  Martin Braithwaite, 6 - Decoy run helped create space for De Jong to score opener. Didn’t score himself, but nice one-two with Messi. Works hard. You need more than that up front for the Catalans. Reuters

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  SUBS: Miralem Pjanic, 6 - On for Busquets after 74. Shot over a minute after coming on. AP

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  Antoine Griezmann, N/A - Off bench for Braithwaite with ten minutes to play. Much criticised lately and needs to find form. Reuters

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  Oscar Mingueza, 6 - On for Dest 74. He played in uncustomary right back. AP

Barcelona won 1-0 at bottom side Huesca as Lionel Messi became the first foreign player to make 500 appearances in Spain's La Liga.

Messi returned for Barca after missing the final game of 2020 with an ankle knock and swung in a cross for Frenkie de Jong to divert home for the only goal on 27 minutes.

Although Ronald Koeman's side began a potentially season-defining run of four consecutive away matches with a comfortable win, they remain a distant 10 points behind Atletico in fifth having played a game more.

"In general, aside from the last 20 minutes we played well," said Koeman.

"We created a lot of danger, which isn't easy against a team that shuts up at the back. We got a great goal and we had two or three more chances to pull away."

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe on the picture.