Messi scores his 400th goal for Barça, bringing the team closer to the title.
Lionel Messi scored his 400th goal for Barcelona this Saturday (18) and helped the Spanish league leaders beat Valencia 2-0; Barça now have a five-point advantage over Real Madrid, who have 73 points and host Málaga later this Saturday, while Atlético de Madrid can open up a four-point lead over Valencia, in fourth place with 65, if they beat Deportivo La Coruna.
BARCELONA (Reuters) Lionel Messi scored his 400th goal for Barcelona on Saturday, helping the Spanish league leaders beat Valencia 2-0, who will regret all the chances they missed.
Uruguayan Luis Suarez continued the lethal streak with a low shot from inside the box, after receiving a pass from Messi, less than a minute into the match.
This Saturday's goal comes after the two he scored midweek in the 3-1 victory over Paris St. Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Messi then scored on a counter-attack in stoppage time, marking his 400th goal after goalkeeper Diego Alves saved the first attempt.
Barça now has a five-point lead over Real Madrid, who have 73 points and host Málaga later on Saturday, while Atlético Madrid could open up a four-point lead over Valencia, in fourth place with 65 points, if they beat Deportivo La Coruna.
Valencia missed a golden opportunity to equalize ten minutes into the first half when Claudio Bravo saved Dani Parejo's penalty after Gerard Pique fouled Rodrigo Moreno.
Paco Alcacer of Valencia also hit the post while Barcelona held on, and then in a more relaxed second half Messi also hit the post with a free kick before scoring his own goal.
(Reporting by Tim Hanlon)