BARCELONA: Lionel Messi kept Barcelona’s title hopes alive with two goals and an assist to see off Real Sociedad 3-2 and keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who needed a brace from Isco to beat Sporting Gijon by the same scoreline.
A much-changed Real side snatched victory at El Molinon thanks to Isco’s two goals, which included a 90th-minute winner, to stretch their lead over Barca before the Catalans closed the gap back down to three points at the Nou Camp.
Messi scored twice and set up a third for Paco Alcacer as Barcelona saw off their Basque opponents, who pressed them until the end of a nervy encounter.
The win, however, kept the Catalans within touching distance of Los Blancos, having played one match more, ahead of next Sunday’s Clasico.
Before the fierce rivals meet, both will play the return legs of their Champions League quarter-finals. Real welcome Bayern Munich on Tuesday after winning the first leg 2-1, while Barca must overturn a 3-0 first-leg defeat to Juventus on Wednesday.
“Today was very important, considering where we were coming from. We were able to pull out a win against a very difficult rival,†Barca coach Luis Enrique said. “I’m more than satisfied with my players’ ability to deal with their frustration after what happened in the Champions League.â€
Messi put Barcelona ahead with a low drive in the 17th minute and doubled the lead with a tap-in after Luis Suarez’s shot was saved in the 37th.
However, Barca passed up the chance to enjoy a comfortable evening in a three-goal spell in as many minutes just before half-time.
Firstly, Samuel Umtiti turned Inigo Martinez’s driven effort into his own net.
Alcacer, deputising for the suspended Neymar, briefly restored Barca’s two-goal lead before Xabi Prieto reduced the deficit to 3-2, while the second half stayed goalless despite intense pressure from the visitors.
Real endured a nervous game too, which was eventually settled by Isco at the death.
Sporting opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Mikel Vesga scooped a pass over Madrid’s defence which Duje Cop slammed home, and then Isco equalised three minutes later with a brilliant individual goal.
Vesga looped a header over Kiko Casilla to put the hosts back in front after halftime, but Alvaro Morata equalised with a towering header, before Isco’s drilled a right-footed shot from just outside the area between goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar and his post.
The Spain international said that fighting until the very end and snatching late victories are part of the club’s fabric.
“This is the spirit of Madrid, we showed it and we did it,†he said. “I had the luck of being the decisive one and I’m here to help my team-mates.â€
Isco’s outstanding performance saved coach Zinedine Zidane from paying a heavy price for resting almost all his first-choice players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, for Real’s big week ahead.
And Zinedine Zidane insists he wants Isco to stay despite his lack of starts and interest from Barca.
“You know what I think of Isco, he is a player I like a lot and his place is here,†he said.
Atletico Madrid missed two late penalties but still thrashed bottom of the table Osasuna 3-0 at home with a brace from Yannick Carrasco to stay third in the table.
Atletico rested Antoine Griezmann ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match at Leicester City, when they will defend a 1-0 first-leg victory.
