SPAIN: Messi scores twice as Barca keep up on title chase

In a thrilling encounter on Saturday night, Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi scored twice as his side laboured to win 3-2 over Real Sociedad to keep their La Liga title hopes alive.

The champions are three points below Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, as both teams are set to clash next weekend.

Messi fired Barca into the lead from 25 yards on 17 minutes and scuffed home a second exactly 2 minutes later, which makes his 498th goal for Barca.

Samuel Umtiti’s own goal gave Real sociedad some hope, before Paco Alcacer made it 3-1 and Xabi Prieto pulled one back to end the game at 3-2.

Read Also: Ronaldo makes UEFA club history as Madrid stun Bayern

Earlier on Saturday, leaders Real Madrid had won their match against Sporting Gijon with the same scoreline.

Isco scored a last-minute winner as they came from behind twice to beat Gijon and remain in control of the league.

Real – who play Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday – rested Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Duje Cop gave Sporting the lead from Mikel Vesga’s flicked ball over the top on 14 minutes but Isco levelled after good footwork just three minutes later.

Vesga then scored a looping header before Alvaro Morata levelled with his head and Isco got the 20-yard winner on the 90th minute.

 

 

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