Messi Propels Barca To Comeback Against Valencia

Lionel Messi scored a brace to inspire a 3-2 comeback for Barcelona against Valencia and keep pressure on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the title race.

The free-kick was the Barcelona skipper's 50th goal from a set-piece, his 31st against Valencia, taking his tally this season to 28 goals in La Liga.

With coach Ronald Koeman serving a touchline ban, Barca fell behind in the 50th minute when Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista headed home from a corner after keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had stumbled in his attempt to come for the ball.

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The Catalans, who had blown the chance to go top of the league with a shock 2-1 defeat at home by Granada on Thursday, where Koeman was sent off, reacted well to going behind and soon won a penalty thanks to a handball from Valencia's Toni Lato.

Messi saw his spot-kick saved by former teammate Jasper Cillessen but Valencia failed to clear the danger and the Argentine followed up to score on the second rebound in the 57th minute.

Antoine Griezmann gave Barca the lead six minutes later, also netting on the rebound after Cillessen could only parry a header from Frenkie de Jong.

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The goal took the Frenchman's goal to 12 goals, 19 in all competitions for the Blaugrana.

Messi looked to have clinched the points in the 69th when he fired a set-piece in off the post to score a brace at the Mestalla.

Valencia got back into contention out of nowhere when midfielder Carlos Soler scored with an unstoppable strike from long range in the 83rd.

Barca are third on 74 points with four games remaining, level with second-placed Real Madrid, and two behind leaders Atletico Madrid after both sides won on Saturday. Fourth-placed Sevilla, on 70, host Athletic Bilbao on Monday.