Lionel Messi created a goal and scored another as Barcelona came from behind to beat struggling Rayo Vallecano 3-1 at home on Saturday and stay seven points clear at the top of La Liga.
Rayo, who have now lost their last 12 games against Barca, took a shock lead midway through the first half when forward Raul de Thomas — who is on loan from Real Madrid — ran past two defenders before arrowing a shot into the bottom corner.
The Madrid side’s unlikely lead at the Nou Camp lasted a quarter of an hour and ended when Messi whipped in a free kick for Gerard Pique to appear unmarked and head home.
Barca won a penalty early in the second half when Luis Suarez was fouled and Messi converted to put the league leaders in front and the Uruguayan forward made sure of the points with a simple finish from close range in the 82nd minute.
Coach Ernesto Valverde started without Ousmane Dembele and Ivan Rakitic but fielded an otherwise first-choice starting 11 even with a Champions League last-16 second leg against Olympique Lyonnais coming up on Wednesday.
Record signing Philippe Coutinho started instead of Dembele but yet again failed to dovetail with Suarez and Messi in attack and missed the target with both chances which fell his way.
France international Dembele was introduced at the start of the second half for midfielder Arthur Melo and Barca immediately looked more incisive down the right hand side, from which Suarez earned the penalty that Messi converted.
Coutinho was taken off with 10 minutes remaining and received a smattering of boos from the Barca fans, and his replacement Rakitic had an instant impact, darting into the area to reach a pass and promptly laying it off to Suarez to score.
The win, which followed successive victories over Real Madrid in the league and Copa del Rey, restored Barca’s seven-point gap over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who earned a 1-0 victory at home to Leganes.
Rayo are 19th in the standings and two points from escaping the drop zone as the pressure mounts on coach Michel.
“We have had a very tough run of games, in theory today’s should have been easier but we know that these games are very difficult to play,” Pique told reporters.
Barca coach Valverde also emphasised how tough the match was.
Much-changed Atletico sneak narrow win over Leganes
Atletico Madrid kept up their pursuit of La Liga leaders Barcelona by beating Leganes 1-0 at home as coach Diego Simeone rotated his squad in preparation for next week’s Champions League game against Juventus.
Midfielder Saul Niguez struck the only goal of the match, following up to score on the rebound in the 50th minute after his penalty was saved.
Atletico, who travel to Serie A champions Juventus on Tuesday defending a 2-0 lead in the last-16 second leg, were without first-choice defenders Lucas Hernandez, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis, allowing 21-year-old Colombian full back Andres Solano to make his debut.
Simeone withdrew talismanic forward and usual penalty taker Antoine Griezmann at halftime, bringing on Saul in his place, and he left in-form striker Alvaro Morata on the bench to keep him fresh for the trip to Turin.
The win took second-placed Atletico on to 56 points, four behind leaders Barcelona who play Rayo Vallecano later on Saturday, and eight clear of Real Madrid, who visit Real Valladolid on Sunday.
Atletico coach Simeone admitted he had one eye on the Juventus match.
“We try to win every game while also looking after our needs and that’s how I managed the game today,” he told a news conference.
“It’s normal, because Tuesday’s game is very important but whenever we plan ahead we always try to ensure we know what to do in the first game, we play in the way we think is most appropriate and we try to win it.”
Atletico got their breakthrough when Angel Correa was fouled by Kenneth Omeruo in the area and Saul produced a soft shot from the spot which was parried by Andriy Lunin.
Leganes, whose players wore their mothers’ names on the back of their shirts the day after International Women’s Day, had a penalty appeal turned down in added time when Jose Arnaiz went over from a challenge from Rodrigo.
