Supersub Lionel Messi scored twice as nine-man Barcelona, with their 5,000th Spanish league goal, came from behind to beat Racing Santander 2-1 and move 12 points clear of Real Madrid. A Nikola Zigic penalty had put Racing in front on 56 minutes before Messi changed the game, equalising just five minutes after coming on and then scoring an 81st minute winner with his weaker right foot. Messi's personal goals tally for the season is now 16 while Barcelona, unbeaten in 20 games, recorded a ninth straight league win.
"You always know that Messi is capable of creating a goal and fortunately for us he created two," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. "We had dominated, but without creating much going forward against a well-organised Racing side."
Valencia did their Champions League hopes the world of good with a 3-2 victory over Almeria. David Villa scored twice to notch his 16th and 17th goals of the campaign as Valencia moved a point behind third-placed Sevilla and three points ahead of Villarreal, who slipped in a 3-0 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna.
Sevilla, who defeated Valencia to reach the Kings Cup semi-final in midweek, suffered a 1-0 defeat at Sporting Gijon in Sunday's late match.
The home side overcame an early red card to Mate Bilic, and then a missed penalty mid-way through the first half, to claim all three points thanks to a goal after 16 minutes from Diego Castro.
Barcelona are the favourites for the cup after defeating Espanyol to reach the semi-finals and looked off the pace in the first half against Racing. Racing had the first opening after 11 minutes with Jonathan Pereira's shot hitting the post. In the 56th minute, Racing won a penalty when Rafael Marquez committed a silly foul on Perreira and Zigic cooly converted the penalty.
