Messi double puts Barcelona back on track

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-02 11:15

MADRID - Lionel Messi scored twice to help Barcelona shake off the disappointment of their midweek Champions League semi-final exit with a 4-1 victory at Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday.

Messi double puts Barcelona back on track

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (R) shoots to score past Villarreal's Diego Godin during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal May 1, 2010. [Agencies]

Any thoughts that tired limbs or damaged morale might affect the defence of their league title were misplaced as Messi, Xavi and Bojan Krkic netted in the first half at the Madrigal.

World Player of the Year Messi then bagged his second goal near the end to take his league tally for the season to 29 after Joseba Llorente had pulled one back for the hosts.

Barca have 90 points with three matches left, four ahead of Real Madrid who play Osasuna at the Bernabeu on Sunday. Villarreal stay sixth on 52 points. "It was a tough game and we needed to turn the page so I must congratulate the coach and players," Barca president Joan Laporta told Spanish television.

Villarreal striker Nilmar fluffed two early chances before the visitors took control.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola left Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench, preferring Bojan alongside Pedro and Messi up front, and it was the Argentine who showed excellent skill to score the opener.

Controlling Xavi's pass on the turn after 19 minutes he advanced and his shot deflected in off a defender.

Xavi doubled the lead with a curling free kick after 34 minutes and Bojan scored a wonderful third, spinning away from his marker and beating a second defender for pace before firing the ball into the far corner.

Llorente's goal on the counter threatened to ignite a Villarreal comeback in the 67th minute but Messi clipped the ball over the diving Diego Lopez to secure the points.