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Barcelona see off Real Betis with Lionel Messi double to stay in touch Barcelona see off Real Betis with Lionel Messi double to stay in touch
(about 3 hours later)
Lionel Messi scored twice for Barcelona in a laboured home victory over the bottom side Real Betis as the champions stayed hard on the heels of the leaders, Atlético Madrid, who earlier beat Villarreal 1-0. The result means Barça are a point behind Atlético with six matches remaining, including a clash between the sides at the Camp Nou on the final day of the season.Lionel Messi scored twice for Barcelona in a laboured home victory over the bottom side Real Betis as the champions stayed hard on the heels of the leaders, Atlético Madrid, who earlier beat Villarreal 1-0. The result means Barça are a point behind Atlético with six matches remaining, including a clash between the sides at the Camp Nou on the final day of the season.
Barça were well short of their best against a Betis side who showed impressive fight despite being eight points adrift at the bottom and having little chance of avoiding relegation.Barça were well short of their best against a Betis side who showed impressive fight despite being eight points adrift at the bottom and having little chance of avoiding relegation.
Messi scored his first from the penalty spot in the 15th minute after the Betis defender Jordi Figueras brought down Alexis Sánchez. Barça were unable to convert long periods of possession into goals and were fortunate to go 2-0 ahead when Figueras deflected the ball into his own net in the 67th minute.Messi scored his first from the penalty spot in the 15th minute after the Betis defender Jordi Figueras brought down Alexis Sánchez. Barça were unable to convert long periods of possession into goals and were fortunate to go 2-0 ahead when Figueras deflected the ball into his own net in the 67th minute.
Betis set Barça nerves jangling two minutes later when they hit back through the substitute Ruben Castro before Messi added his second four minutes from time after the defender Antonio Amaya handled in the area and the referee awarded another penalty.Betis set Barça nerves jangling two minutes later when they hit back through the substitute Ruben Castro before Messi added his second four minutes from time after the defender Antonio Amaya handled in the area and the referee awarded another penalty.
Betis's goalkeeper, Antonio Adán, saved the Argentina captain's initial shot but Messi put the rebound into the net for his 25th league goal of an injury-disrupted campaign.Betis's goalkeeper, Antonio Adán, saved the Argentina captain's initial shot but Messi put the rebound into the net for his 25th league goal of an injury-disrupted campaign.
The Barcelona coach, Gerardo Martino, said he would not look for excuses for his team's disappointing display.
"The feeling I have is that this game popped up between the two tremendously important games on Tuesday and next Wednesday," Martino said, referring to the Champions League quarter-final against Atlético. "We had to win to keep up the pressure on the leaders. We value the result as highly as we possibly can but not the way we played."
Atlético are guaranteed at least a third-placed finish, and qualification for next season's Champions League, as they are 23 points ahead of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who are away at Levante on Monday.Atlético are guaranteed at least a third-placed finish, and qualification for next season's Champions League, as they are 23 points ahead of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who are away at Levante on Monday.
Real Madrid kept up the pressure on the leading pair with a 4-0 win at Real Sociedad.Real Madrid kept up the pressure on the leading pair with a 4-0 win at Real Sociedad.