Messi nets brace to push Barca on verge of Spanish league title

AP

BARCELONA LIONEL MESSI netted two goals in 15 minutes as a substitute for giving Barcelona a comeback win 4-2 Real Betis on Sunday and press his team on the edge of the Spanish League title.

After his teammates rallied went back to level at 2-2, Messi twice in the 56th and four minutes later curled in a free kick to extend his record scoring streak to 21 straight league performances.

The Argentina forward struck again in the 71st by polishing with a combination of excellent pass from Andres Iniesta and fellow goalscorer Alexis Sanchez to reach the 60-goal mark in all competitions for the second consecutive season.

"Weknow Messi is the best," Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. "We know that every time he comes on he will give us something." Barcelona leads by 11 points with four laps to go and would clinch its 22nd domestic Crown as defending champion Real Madrid drops points against Malaga on Wednesday.

Messi has hampered for the past month by a right hamstring-injury.

Since hurting his leg on 2 April, the four-time world player of the year four gamesó including Wednesday stinging 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich that output of the Champions Leagueó sealed and come off the bench in two more before Sunday the match missed.

As last week game at Athletic de Bilbao, Messi looked fit enough again in Barcelona's favor as he moved the contest.

"Against Messi, you can't do anything," said Betis coach Pepe Mel, whose team remained in seventh place a 3-0 victory over Espanyol to move into eighth place and stay in the hunt for a Europa League berth.

Barcelona showed signs of still feeling the effects of the midweek defeat to Bayern who completed his 7-0, dismantling of the Catalan side over their two-leg semifinal.

Barcelona was slow at the beginning and in the second minute that his defense slow to react to an apparently routine high ball that bounced through to skilfully Dorlan Pabon, who was slotted it past the goalkeeper Jose Pinto, playing for the injured Victor Valdes.

Call of frustration immediately from the demanding Camp Nou crowd were heard, and they combined with the drizzle to further shock the hosts spirits just when they should have tried to take a step on the road to the League title.

Barcelona was quick to respond, and with Messi on the bench, it fell to playmaker Iniesta to unlock Betis defense in the ninth when he picked Alexis in the far post to nod in his crotch.

Barcelona pressed for a second goal with David Villa wasted two good chances before Cristian Tello hit the crossbar.

But it was Betis who went ahead this time against the run of playó with Ruben Perez unstoppable long strike from well outside the area that Pinto had no chance to hold off two minutes before halftime.

"Football was a little cruel with us in the first half," said Pique. "We have a lot of scoring opportunities while they scored on the two chances they had, but then it was kind to us in the second half.

"We are close to the title.

The sooner, the better. " Messi began to warm up at the beginning of the second half to the relief of the home fans who cheered his presence on the sideline.

Seconds before the coming off for Messi, Villa created for his earlier accidents by Dani Alves Cross under goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel with a header after beating Betis Defense has left him unmarked in the box.

Messi then took in his 20th multi-goal game of the season.

He had touched the ball just once when he scored an exquisite free kick, bending a leftfooted shot just inside the near corner of the goal frame that San Miguel did well to touch but could not turn away.