Lionel Messi netted his 30th and 31st league goals of the season as Barcelona inched closer to retaining their La Liga title with a 4-1 home win over relegation-threatened Tenerife at Camp Nou on Tuesday. The Catalans are now four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit with just two games left, but Real have a game in hand and must win at fourth-placed Real Mallorca on Wednesday to keep their title hopes alive.
Messi put Barcelona ahead on 17 minutes and added a second in the final minute to stay on course to win the Pichichi crown for the league’s top scorer, as he is currently six goals ahead of his nearest rival, Real striker Gonzalo Higuain. Argentine Roman Martinez stunned the champions by equalising for Tenerife shortly before half-time following an error from home captain Carles Puyol.
But second-half goals from Bojan Krkic (in the 63rd minute) and substitute Pedro Rodriguez (77) turned the game in Barca’s favour before Messi rubbed salt in the wound with his late strike.
“It was a difficult night due to the weather and the fixture list is already taking its toll but we gave our all,” said Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes. “It is a very competitive league and we have won our game and now we just have to wait.”
Barcelona will hope Mallorca can do them a favour against Real as they turn their focus to Saturday’s tough trip to Champions League hopefuls Sevilla. Promoted Tenerife, who have won just once on their travels all season, stay third from bottom, although they are level on points with Malaga above them.
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