Sunday 9 November 2014 14:09, UK
Luis Suarez came off the bench to inspire Barcelona to victory at Almeria in Saturday's La Liga action.
The club's marquee summer signing gave his most influential contribution to date on his fourth appearance, laying on both Barca's goals as the visitors came from behind to win 2-1.
The result ended Barca's run of two league defeats but was not enough to take them top as Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallacano 5-1 at the Bernabeu to maintain a two-point lead over their rivals.
Suarez's return to action following his ban has coincided with his new club's worst run of the season, and a third straight domestic defeat appeared a possibility when Almeria went in ahead at the break.
Lionel Messi's mistake sparked a home counter-attack which ended with former West Brom loanee Bifouma Thievy's smart finish.
Messi remains one short of the all-time La Liga scoring record, and there was more frustration when he headed against the bar at the start of the second half.
By that stage Suarez was off the bench, and it was the Uruguayan who teed up an equaliser for Neymar - finished via a nick off a defender - before sending in Alba to dink over Ruben Martinez.
In the capital Real's victory was bookended by goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted for the 23rd time this season.
Toni Kroos laid on Bale's opener, and James Rodriguez created a second for Sergio Ramos only for his poor backpass to present Rayo's Alberto Bueno with a goal back.
The visitors had a second ruled out for offside after the break - moments before Kroos' precision long-range grass-cutter opened his Real account - and an offside-looking Benzema then buried Ronaldo's centre for a fourth.
The Portuguese got his customary goal before then end thanks to a terrible error from Rayo goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez, who let a soft shot squirm through his grasp.
Elsewhere the game between Getafe and Elche, and Celta Vigo and Granada finished 0-0, while Malaga beat Eibar 2-1 thanks to a last-minute Nordin Amrabat penalty.
