Goal No. 600 For Messi

Lionel Messi’s strike from a free­kick helped Barcelona to a 1­0 win over second­placed Atletico Madrid.

- 

Lionel Messi again came to Barcelona’s rescue as his strike from a free­kick, 25 yards out, gave his side a vital 1­0 home win over title rival Atletico Madrid. “If Messi had been wearing an Atletico shirt, we would have won,” Diego Simeone, the Atletico manager, said.

The Argentinian forward’s 600th career goal opened up an eight­point lead for Barcelona at the top of the table with 11 rounds left to play. Messi dipped a shot over the wall in the 26th minute to take his league­leading tally to 24 this season and 32 in all competitions. It was his sixth goal from a free­kick this season, and his third straight after successful free­kicks against Girona and Las Palmas.

Virtually conceding the league title, Simeone said: “The numbers are what they are. Barcelona wouldn’t normally lose four or five games in what they have left. But this is football, and we have to go out there to win the next match and think about how we can continue to improve.”

It was not all positive for the Catalan leaders, however, with midfielder Andres Iniesta substituted in the first half due to a hamstring injury in his right leg. Iniesta walked off the pitch in the 36th minute.

Barcelona's most difficult matches now should be away at Sevilla and at home against third­placed Real Madrid, which secured a 3-­1 victory over 10­man Getafe, and fourth-placed Valencia.

Chelsea, Arsenal slip further