Barcelona forward Leo Messi scored a brace as the champions beat Villarreal 3-1 in an exhibition of attacking soccer from both sides on Saturday.
For the first time Messi has now scored in seven consecutive games and Barcelona go provisionally top of the table.
The Catalan side’s attack has been in fine form with eight goals in their last two games, but they faced a Villarreal side just two points behind and unbeaten in nine games.
Photo: Reuters
Villarreal arrived promising to take the game to Barca and there were plenty of chances in an action-packed game.
Early on, Messi was denied by a good save from Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez, while Nilmar also had a strike blocked by Barca stopper Victor Valdes.
David Villa opened the scoring, slipping the ball over the desperate dive of defender Carlos Marchena before finding the corner, but Villarreal soon hit back through Brazilian striker Nilmar.
Messi was wrongly flagged offside when through on goal, but in the second half he restored Barca’s advantage, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper from a tight angle and he then secured the win with his second seven minutes from the end.
Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan ended his goal drought scoring a brace in his side’s 3-0 win over Osasuna.
The Golden Ball winner at this year’s World Cup has started the season slowly, but with pressure growing on him after eight games without a goal he finally found the back of the net.
Forlan broke the deadlock from close range, pouncing on a loose ball after Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez saved from Sergio Aguero.
Atletico doubled their lead through an Aguero header before halftime and then, with Osasuna reduced to 10 men following Nacho Monreal’s second yellow card, Forlan struck again.
“We played a strong game against a side that, until you score, will make it difficult for you. The difference was the quality of our players in attack. Every time I see Forlan he is better and when he plays alongside Kun [Aguero] we are an infinitely better team,” Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said.
An early Fernando Llorente strike gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 victory in a battling performance against Almeria, with the team holding on after being reduced to nine men.
Athletic defender Mikel San Jose had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Diego Alves after Juan Ortiz fouled Carlos Gurpegi, but minutes later they did take the lead when Llorente knocked home a Javi Martinez cross.
Koikili Lertxundi was dismissed for a second yellow card and then substitute Xavier Castillo was given a straight red for a professional foul on Henok Goitom, but still Almeria couldn’t find a way through.
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