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DPA
Barcelona
Lionel Messi struck twice to earn Barcelona a thrilling 3-2 win at Valencia on Sunday, to keep them in the hunt for La Liga.
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid both won on Saturday, raising the pressure on Ronald Koeman’s side.
Barcelona, who could have gone top of the table last Thursday but lost at home against Granada, started well with Pedri firing wide and Jasper Cillessen denying Ronald Araujo.
They were without their coach after he was dismissed during the 2-1 defeat for rowing with the fourth official, and Koeman’s assistant Alfred Schreuder directed the team from the touchline.
Valencia took the lead early in the second half with Gabriel Paulista heading home from a corner after Marc-Andre ter Stegen was caught out.
However Messi fired Barcelona level from close range, after he missed a penalty and the ball ricocheted back to him as Pedri’s effort was blocked.
Antoine Griezmann sent Barcelona ahead when Cillessen could only parry Frenkie de Jong’s header, and Messi netted the third with a spectacular free-kick.
It was the Argentine’s 28th league goal of the season, placing him as the runaway top goalscorer.
Carlos Soler pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute with a screamer from distance to set up a thrilling finale, but Barcelona held on to pull level on 74 points with Real Madrid, while Atletico are top on 76.
“We showed character, the reaction was good,” said Schreuder.
“In the first half we played well but couldn’t get a goal, they defended solidly.
“The game against Granada was nothing like this one, we reacted well at one down and believed in what we were doing, showed character and deserved to win.
“We dominated the game against a touch opponent. We’re alive in La Liga, we are very close, we’re up there.”
Barcelona host Atletico Madrid next Saturday, while Real Madrid welcome Sevilla on Sunday.
“We’re not looking at the other teams, we’re focusing on ourselves,” added Schreuder.
“Next week won’t be a definitive game, there are four more to go. We believe in ourselves to win La Liga.
“We’ve reduced the distance to Atletico since January and have been competing well over the last three months.”
Elsewhere Yeremi Pino’s strike helped Villarreal to a 1-0 win over Getafe, leaving the Madrid side in a precarious position.
Jose Bordalas’s team are 15th and four points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining.
Real Valladolid, 17th, moved a point clear of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis.
Granada fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Cadiz, thanks to Ruben Sobrino’s 39th-minute strike, and had Roberto Soldado sent off late on for dissent.
Barcelona
Lionel Messi struck twice to earn Barcelona a thrilling 3-2 win at Valencia on Sunday, to keep them in the hunt for La Liga.
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid both won on Saturday, raising the pressure on Ronald Koeman’s side.
Barcelona, who could have gone top of the table last Thursday but lost at home against Granada, started well with Pedri firing wide and Jasper Cillessen denying Ronald Araujo.
They were without their coach after he was dismissed during the 2-1 defeat for rowing with the fourth official, and Koeman’s assistant Alfred Schreuder directed the team from the touchline.
Valencia took the lead early in the second half with Gabriel Paulista heading home from a corner after Marc-Andre ter Stegen was caught out.
However Messi fired Barcelona level from close range, after he missed a penalty and the ball ricocheted back to him as Pedri’s effort was blocked.
Antoine Griezmann sent Barcelona ahead when Cillessen could only parry Frenkie de Jong’s header, and Messi netted the third with a spectacular free-kick.
It was the Argentine’s 28th league goal of the season, placing him as the runaway top goalscorer.
Carlos Soler pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute with a screamer from distance to set up a thrilling finale, but Barcelona held on to pull level on 74 points with Real Madrid, while Atletico are top on 76.
“We showed character, the reaction was good,” said Schreuder.
“In the first half we played well but couldn’t get a goal, they defended solidly.
“The game against Granada was nothing like this one, we reacted well at one down and believed in what we were doing, showed character and deserved to win.
“We dominated the game against a touch opponent. We’re alive in La Liga, we are very close, we’re up there.”
Barcelona host Atletico Madrid next Saturday, while Real Madrid welcome Sevilla on Sunday.
“We’re not looking at the other teams, we’re focusing on ourselves,” added Schreuder.
“Next week won’t be a definitive game, there are four more to go. We believe in ourselves to win La Liga.
“We’ve reduced the distance to Atletico since January and have been competing well over the last three months.”
Elsewhere Yeremi Pino’s strike helped Villarreal to a 1-0 win over Getafe, leaving the Madrid side in a precarious position.
Jose Bordalas’s team are 15th and four points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining.
Real Valladolid, 17th, moved a point clear of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis.
Granada fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Cadiz, thanks to Ruben Sobrino’s 39th-minute strike, and had Roberto Soldado sent off late on for dissent.
