La Liga: Lionel Messi strikes twice in second half against Valencia to keep Barcelona near top

Lionel Messi came through for Barcelona again on Sunday, keeping the Spanish league’s title race wide open.

Messi scored two second-half goals — including his 50th from a free kick — as Barcelona came from behind to beat Valencia 3-2 and get within two points of leader Atletico Madrid ahead of their key match at the Camp Nou Stadium next weekend.

A win will give Ronald Koeman’s team the league lead for the first time this season.

Antoine Griezmann also scored for Barcelona, which is tied on points with second-place Madrid with four rounds to go. Madrid has a better head-to-head tiebreaker against both rivals at the top. Sevilla also remains in the title race. It can move within three points of the lead if it beats Athletic Bilbao at home on Monday. Sevilla visits Madrid next weekend.

Barcelona made the trip to Valencia under pressure after both Atletico and Madrid won their matches on Saturday — Atletico edged Elche 1-0 and Madrid defeated Osasuna 2-0. The Catalan club was coming off a shock 2-1 home loss to Granada on Thursday, when it could have grabbed sole possession of the lead.

“It was an important win to keep us in the fight after that unexpected loss,” Barcelona captain Gerard Pique said. “We’ll try to win next weekend and take the lead. It’s in our hands.”

The pressure increased Sunday after Valencia opened the scoring at the Mestalla Stadium with Gabriel Paulista’s goal in the 50th minute. The midfielder beat Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet to the ball for an easy header by the far post. Video review was used to check on a possible foul away from the ball but the goal stood.

Messi led Barcelona’s recovery.

The Argentina star equalised in the 57th in the fallout of his own penalty kick after his poor shot from the spot was saved by Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. Barcelona midfielders Sergio Busquets and Pedri Gonzalez both had attempts before Messi got to the loose ball and scored from close range.

Griezmann netted the go-ahead goal six minutes later off another save from Cillessen. The former Barcelona goalkeeper stopped a header from Frenkie De Jong but Griezmann came in unmarked to score easily.

Messi’s second goal came with a beautifully struck free kick that curled over the wall and hit the post before going into the net in the 69th. His milestone 50th goal from a free kick increased his tally at the top of the league’s scoring charts, leaving him on 28 goals.

It was Messi’s ninth double in the league this season, and third in his last five matches in all competitions.

Valencia pulled one closer with a long-range strike by Carlos Soler in the 83rd but it couldn’t find the equaliser.

Koeman was not on the bench after being sent off for complaining in the loss against Granada.

OTHER RESULTS

Villarreal moved to sixth place by beating Getafe 1-0 at home thanks to a late winner from Yeremi Pino. Villarreal coach Unai Emery rested some regular starters ahead of the second leg of the Europa League semifinals against Arsenal on Thursday. The Spanish club won the first leg 2-1 at home.

Seventh-place Real Betis was held 1-1 at relegation-threatened Valladolid, while Granada followed its surprise win over Barcelona with a 1-0 home loss against Cadiz.