Lionel Messi came off the bench to grab a second-half double as Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2 to end a four-game winless streak in La Liga.
The Barcelona captain was surprisingly left on the bench by Coach Ronald Koeman, whose side were pegged back on the stroke of half-time by the visitors.
But Messi was introduced at the start of the second period and immediately produced a sublime dummy to allow Antoine Griezmann – who had been wasteful all match long – to tap into an empty net and put Barca back in front in the 49th minute.
The Frenchman had squandered four chances before the break including missing a penalty.
Messi then stretched Barca’s lead in the 61st minute from the penalty spot after Aissa Mandi was shown a straight red card for using his arm to block a shot from Dembele.
However, Betis set up a tense final 15 minutes as Loren slotted home from 10 yards.
Messi came to the rescue once again to wrap things up in the 82nd minute after a one-two with Sergi Roberto, before midfielder Pedri added a fifth in stoppage time – the teenager’s first goal in La Liga.
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Ronald Koeman: “Since yesterday we discussed that he (Messi) had some discomfort since the game against Dynamo Kyiv. We talked and decided that the best thing was to leave him on the bench in case we needed him. Without discomfort, he would have played.
“We know who he is and I have no doubts about him. I see him working every day. He was not fit enough to start today, but of course his presence in the second half was really important.
“We had many opportunities and missed the penalty and we only went in 1-1 at half-time. But in the second half we kept the team spirit and could have scored more than five.
“It is an important victory – we needed the three points after the last results. In general the team was good and the victory is deserved.”
Atletico Madrid 4-0 Cardiz: Joao Felix impressive showing continues with two goals and an assist against Cadiz
Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix continued to perform impressively as he grabbed two goals and an assist as they crushed visitors Cadiz, 4-0 on Saturday, to continue their rampant run of domestic form and go top of La Liga.
The club-record signing, Felix, put Atletico ahead in the eighth minute, heading a cross from Marcos Llorente, who then scored to double Atleti’s advantage midway through the first half with a finish inside the near post.
Luis Suarez and Felix combined with the Uruguayan making it three for the hosts early in the second half. His goal being initially ruled out for offside then awarded following a VAR review.
Felix completed the rout with a ruthless finish in additional time making it his third double in four matches in all competitions.
The win, Atleti’s fourth straight league victory, sends them to the summit of the La Liga table on goal difference, level on 17 points with second-placed Real Sociedad, who have played a game more, and one point ahead of Real Madrid in third.
Atletico Madrid now look like genuine title contenders after going through what coach Diego Simeone described as a transitional season last year.
“We have taken a big step forward this season. All the new players that arrived last season have integrated into the team and started learning what the coach wants from us,” said goalscorer Llorente.
“We can see on the pitch that we are a great team and are very united. We are all working for each other and the results are going our way.”
Other La Liga results
- SD Huesca 1-1 Eibar
- Barcelona 5-2 Real Betis
- Sevilla 1-0 Osasuna
- Atletico Madrid 4-0 Cadiz
Messi Magic