Messi in - Barca win

Despite twice having to come from behind, goals from Alexis, Villa and Messi - who grabbed a brace after coming on in the second half - gave Barcelona three points against Betis and the chance to win the title without kicking another ball if Real Madrid fails to win its rescheduled meeting with Málaga this Wednesday.

Although Barcelona didn't turn things around until the second half, sparked by the introduction of Leo Messi, chants of 'campeones, campeones, olé, olé, olé' could be heard ringing out around the Camp Nou in the run-up to the final whistle. The Catalans aren't quite over the line yet, but they have one hand firmly on the trophy and the other poised in expectation.

It was far from plain sailing in the Mediterranean, however. Colombian forward Pabón set the cat amongst the Camp Nou pigeons by breaking the deadlock just five minutes in, only for Alexis Sánchez to equalise five minutes later, stooping to head home from an Iniesta cross.

A long-range thunderbolt from Rubén Pérez gave Betis the lead again just before the break. Barça, though, came out with renewed zest after the interval and Villa levelled proceedings for the second time with a fantastic dividing header.

The Asturian subsequently made way for Messi, who took only five minutes to make it 3-2 with a delicious free-kick. The Argentine would go on to seal a 4-2 triumph by finishing off a wonderfully intricate trademark Barça tiki-taka move, although not before first stinging the crossbar with a second set-piece humdinger.


/Marca.Com/