Messi rescues Barcelona as they beat Real Sociedad in five-goal thriller
Messi scored twice and then created the third goal for Alcacer
Barça are three points behind Madrid going into next week's Clasico
Barcelona kept their title hopes alive with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Lionel Messi was once again the architect behind the win, scoring twice and creating another for Paco Alcacer, with all five goals coming in the first half.
A Samuel Umtiti own goal and a strike from Xabi Prieto twice brought La Real back to within a goal of Barça, but the Basque side were unable to end their poor run in Catalonia.
That’s now 19 defeats in a row, with their last points in the league at Camp Nou coming in 1995 — which is in stark contrast to their excellent home form against the Blaugrana.
The three points move Barça back to within three points of leaders Real Madrid and a win in the next week’s Clasico will move them to the top of La Liga, albeit having played a game more.
Alcacer was chosen to replace Neymar on the left as La Real made a bright start to the game. Gerard Pique made a fine early block from a Mikel Oyarzabal shot and then Marc-Andre ter Stegen save from same player
In between those two chances there were two great Messi passes, one for Jordi Alba, whose cross for Luis Suarez poor, and another for Alcacer, who was denied by Geronimo Rulli.
Barça broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Alcacer beat two men, passing to Suarez who teed up Messi. Almost born out of the anger and frustration of last week’s defeats to Malaga and Juventus, the Argentine hammered the ball home from the edge of the box.
The same three players were involved for Barça’s second. Alcacer back-heeled to Suarez, whose shot was saved by Rulli but Messi was able to bury the rebound.
A period of Real Sociedad pressure then ended with Iñigo Martinez lashing home off Umtiti as the first half ended in a blaze of goals.
Barca’s two goal lead was restored almost immediately, Alcacer with a tidy finish from a clever Messi pass.
A great pass from Willian Jose the sliced Barça open, teeing up Xabi Prieto, who provided a brilliant first-time finish. Four goals in nine first half minutes.
There were no goals in the second half and that may be what pleases Luis Enrique the most. La Real won the possession battle but despite the odd hairy moment Barca were able to restrict them to half chances.
What was important was the three points and now thoughts can turn to the Champions League.
On Wednesday Juventus come to Camp Nou with a three-goal lead in their quarter-final tie. Camp Nou believes in another comeback, though, in another miracle. “Yes we can,” they chanted as the game ended.
