A pair of second-half set-pieces saw Barcelona unconventionally pull three points clear at the top of La Liga with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at bottom-placed Leganes.
The champions got off to an unconvincing start upon the resumption after the international break when Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri bent a stunning curled shot into the top corner on 12 minutes.
A fourth away defeat of the season, in all competitions, appeared possible at that stage when Oscar soon found the side-netting after a Gerard Pique error.
But Barca regained their composure after the interval. Uruguay hit-man Suarez – whose header forced an excellent save in the opening stanza – nodded home a sweet Lionel Messi free-kick on 53 minutes, before substitute Arturo Vidal swept in on the goal-line via a deflection of a home defender.
Here are the player ratings from Estadio Municipal de Butarque:
BARCELONA (4-2-3-1)
Marc-Andre ter Stegen 6: A bystander for the delightful Leganes opener. And didn’t have a great deal more to contribute, in truth.
Moussa Wague 6: Injuries and suspension handed the Senegal right-back a first La Liga start of the season. Solid, but not spectacular.
Gerard Pique 5: Rocked the crossbar with a second-half header. Rushed clearance on 16 minutes led to Real Madrid-loanee Oscar hitting the side-netting.
Samuel Umtiti 5: Attracted to ball in build-up to the goal and couldn’t get back in time to block shot.
Junior Firpo 5: Youngster was favoured in absences of Alba and Semedo. Beaten for pace by En-Nesyri
Frenkie de Jong 5: Another Barca star who didn’t truly shine in the Madrid suburbs. Made way for Fati on 70 minutes.
Sergio Busquets 6: Picked up booking that rules him out of trip to Atletico Madrid.
Ousmane Dembele 7: Whipped in corner that led to Vidal’s winner, plus teed up Pique to rock woodwork. France winger was lively.
Lionel Messi 6: Pinpoint set-piece allowed Suarez to convert. Also had one low shot that required Pichu to be alert.
Antoine Griezmann 4: Hard to defend this performance, no matter his stationing. Contributed no shots on target, key passes or dribbles. Face does not fit.
Luis Suarez 7: Guided header past the despairing reach of Pichu to level. Had seen a first-half header brilliantly denied. Now netted in three of his four La Liga games at Leganes.
4 - Barcelona's Arturo Vidal has scored four goals in nine LaLiga appearances this season, one more than in 33 LaLiga games played the last season. Reaction. pic.twitter.com/d5wnRgFvlT
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 23, 2019
SUBSTITUTES
Ivan Rakitic 6: Involved in scramble for winner, but critically didn’t touch ball.
Arturo Vidal 7: Predator’s instinct to be in the right spot to, unconventionally, lash in on the goal line. That’s four La Liga goals in nine appearances – one more than in 33 played in 2018/19.
Ansu Fati 6: Barca changed shape back to 4-2-3-1 when he was thrown on.
