Spanish La Liga: Messi strikes twice in 2nd half to maintain Barcelona close to high

Lionel Messi got here by way of for Barcelona once more, preserving the Spanish league’s title race huge open.
Messi scored two second-half objectives on Sunday — together with his fiftieth from a free kick — as Barcelona got here from behind to beat Valencia 3-2 and get inside two factors of chief Atletico Madrid forward of their key match on the Camp Nou Stadium subsequent weekend.
A win will give Ronald Koeman’s group the league lead for the primary time this season.
Antoine Griezmann additionally scored for Barcelona, which is tied on factors with second-place Madrid with 4 rounds to go. Madrid has a greater head-to-head tiebreaker in opposition to each rivals on the high. Sevilla additionally stays within the title race. It can transfer inside three factors of the lead if it beats Athletic Bilbao at residence on Monday. Sevilla visits Madrid subsequent weekend.
Barcelona made the journey to Valencia below strain after each Atletico and Madrid gained their matches on Saturday Atletico edged Elche 1-0 and Madrid defeated Osasuna 2-0. The Catalan membership was coming off a shock 2-1 residence loss to Granada on Thursday, when it might have grabbed sole possession of the lead.
“It was an important win to keep us in the fight after that unexpected loss,” Barcelona captain Gerard Pique mentioned.
“We’ll try to win next weekend and take the lead. It’s in our hands.”
The strain elevated Sunday after Valencia opened the scoring on the Mestalla Stadium with Gabriel Paulista’s aim within the fiftieth minute. The midfielder beat Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet to the ball for a simple header by the far publish. Video overview was used to test on a attainable foul away from the ball however the aim stood.
Messi led Barcelona’s restoration.
The Argentina star equalized within the 57th within the fallout of his personal penalty kick after his poor shot from the spot was saved by Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. Barcelona midfielders Sergio Busquets and Pedri Gonzalez each had makes an attempt earlier than Messi acquired to the unfastened ball and scored from shut vary.
Highlights:
Griezmann netted the go-ahead aim six minutes later off one other save from Cillessen. The former Barcelona goalkeeper stopped a header from Frenkie De Jong however Griezmann got here in unmarked to attain simply.
Messi’s second aim got here with a superbly struck free kick that curled over the wall and hit the publish earlier than going into the web within the 69th. His milestone fiftieth aim from a free kick elevated his tally on the high of the league’s scoring charts, leaving him on 28 objectives.
It was Messi’s ninth double within the league this season, and third in his final 5 matches in all competitions.
Valencia pulled one nearer with a long-range strike by Carlos Soler within the 83rd however it couldn’t discover the equalizer.
Koeman was not on the bench after being despatched off for complaining within the loss in opposition to Granada.
OTHER RESULTS
Villarreal moved to sixth place by beating Getafe 1-0 at residence because of a late winner from Yeremi Pino. Villarreal coach Unai Emery rested some common starters forward of the second leg of the Europa League semifinals in opposition to Arsenal on Thursday. The Spanish membership gained the primary leg 2-1 at residence.
Seventh-place Real Betis was held 1-1 at relegation-threatened Valladolid, whereas Granada adopted its shock win over Barcelona with a 1-0 residence loss in opposition to Cadiz.