Messi strikes for Barca

Messi strikes for Barca

Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona bagged a hard-fought 3-1 win at in-form Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday night.

Pep Guardiola's side had seen their lead at the top of the table cut back to two points just before taking to the field in Coruna, following Real Madrid's 4-2 victory at home to Almeria.

At the start of the day, Barca had played a game more than their fierce rivals after their clash with bottom club Xerez was put forward to Wednesday.

That was due to the Catalans' participation in the forthcoming World Club Championship and Guardiola's side won 2-0 in Andalusia in what was a far from convincing performance.

Barca had been held to three straight draws on the road in the league before that match and Guardiola called for an improvement ahead of this clash.

But they were made to work hard for the win against a Deportivo side enjoying a fine start to the season.

The Galicians had won eight of their 12 league matches prior to this one and proved hard to break down.

Messi put Barca in front after 26 minutes, but Deportivo hit back later in the first half through Adrian Lopez.

The game could have gone either way after that, but Barca's superior quality eventually told as Messi headed the Catalans back in front with 10 minutes remaining.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic rounded off an important victory for the visitors with a third goal right at the death.

It was end-to-end stuff as the game kicked off in Riazor.

Both sides looked dangerous in the opening stages, but the first effort on target came after 14 minutes, when Ibrahimovic got on the end of Dani Alves' cross, but the Swede's header was weak and failed to trouble Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia.

Barca began to take control after that and Messi threatened after 20 minutes, when he got away from several defenders and lashed a powerful drive just wide of the target.

Six minutes later, Barca did take the lead.

And Messi, who earlier this week was awarded the Ballon d'Or as Europe's top player, was inevitably the architect.

The Argentina winger turned on the edge of the box and lashed a fierce drive past Aranzubia to give the Catalans the goal their pressure had deserved.

Moments earlier, Thierry Henry and Ibrahimovic had both threatened and the latter tested Aranzubia once more after 35 minutes.

Barca looked certain to score again sooner or later, but Deportivo got right back in it after 38 minutes.

Aranzubia sent a long goal kick forward, which Sergio Busquets could only glance back towards his own goal with his head, but Adrian nipped in between Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal to head past an exposed Victor Valdes.

Aranzubia then saved well from Messi as Barca looked to get back in front before the interval.

The second half was a tighter affair, with little in the way of clear-cut chances at either end.

And just when it looked as if the match would finish level, Messi popped up once again.

This time, the Argentina forward beat Aranzubia with a well-placed header from Pedro's cross.

Depor coach Miguel Angel Lotina threw on striker Rodolfo Bodipo in an attempt to salvage a point for the Galicians, but Barca struck a third time on the break with the home side stretched.

Abidal played a long ball forward, which Messi left for Ibrahimovic and the Sweden striker clinically beat Aranzubia to score his third in three matches in the last seven days.

Barca therefore stand five points clear again, although they have played a game more than Madrid.

Deportivo, meanwhile, stay in fifth, whatever happens in Sunday's matches.