Managing Messi a 'privilege' - Enrique

Argentine icon first to score 300 La Liga goals

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique described the fortune to have Lionel Messi on his side as a "privilege" after the five-time World Player of the Year scored his 300th La Liga goal on Wednesday.

Messi scored twice in a 3-1 win at Sporting Gijon to take his tally to 301 league goals in 335 games as Barca extended its lead at the top of the table to six points.

"To be able to count on Leo is always a privilege no matter how the opponent plays," said Enrique.

Barca is now a heavy favorite to seal a fifth Liga title in seven years with Atletico Madrid its closest challenger and Real Madrid a further point adrift in third.

"I am optimistic in any situation and this is a favorable one," said Enrique.

"But that doesn't mean anything because we all know that when the final games of the season approach, especially the last 10, the teams in trouble begin to win games and it becomes very difficult to take the points.

"We are where we want to be and we depend on ourselves."

The only negative for the European champion was another missed penalty, this time by Luis Suarez.

Messi caused a worldwide sensation by passing a spot kick into Suarez's path to complete his hat-trick in the 6-1 rout of Celta Vigo on Sunday.

However, between Messi, Suarez and Neymar, Barca has now missed seven of its 15 directly taken penalties this season.

It mattered little though, as Suarez made amends with a terrific finish for his 40th goal of the season 23 minutes from time.

"We want to improve in that aspect, but those that miss them are the ones that take the responsibility to hit them.

"We have confidence in Leo, Luis and Ney. They are great penalty takers."

Messi struck either side of Carlos Castro's well-worked equalizer in a three-goal burst in five first-half minutes.

"I think we controlled the game and created a lot of clear chances despite the problems that are always caused when a team plays a lot of men behind the ball."

The match had been postponed due to Barcelona's commitments in the Club World Cup in December.

With a huge clash against fellow struggler Real Betis to come on Saturday, Sporting boss and former Barca defender Abelardo Fernandez made nine changes to his side from the team that started Friday's 2-2 draw with Rayo Vallecano.

However, in a match dominated by the European champion, it was the host who had the first clear opening as Alex Menendez shot just wide from Barca loanee Alen Halilovic's through ball.

Enrique also made five changes, but the star front troika of Messi, Suarez and Neymar started after their incredible display in the 6-1 thrashing of Celta at the weekend.

Suarez had an early chance to extend his lead as the league's top scorer from Neymar's inch-perfect pass, but the Uruguayan fired straight at Ivan Cuellar.

Messi broke the deadlock with a deadly accurate drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards to become the first player to hit the triple century in La Liga goals.

Yet, the lead only lasted two minutes as a brilliant counter-attack saw Pablo Perez pick out Menendez on the left and his low cross was swept home at the back post by Castro.

Barca promptly responded, though, as Suarez showed great strength to hold the ball up and then laid down a perfect pass for Messi to fire into the roof of the net with the outside of his left foot.

Enrique's men should have put the game out of reach before halftime as Cuellar flew to his right to prevent Messi from scoring a hat-trick before Neymar curled the rebound against the post.