Lionel Messi celebrates his first goal against Real Betis. PHOTO: AFP
Dorlan Pabon and Ruben Perez had twice given the visitors the lead in the first-half either side of Alexis Sanchez’s equaliser.
However, after David Villa had once again levelled the scores, it was unsurprisingly left to Messi to decide matters as within three minutes of coming on he fired in a wonderful free-kick and then was on hand to tap home at the end of a flowing move involving Sanchez and Andres Iniesta.
“The important thing is to go out as league champions,” Sanchez told Canal Plus afterwards.
“We have to go game by game, fighting for the victories, but the fundamental thing is to win the league whenever it may be.
“When Messi comes on to the field he offers a lot to the team. It motivates us to play together and it is obvious that he is an important player, but [whether he starts or not] are decisions that I don’t know.”
Elsewhere, Real Zaragoza moved out of the relegation zone with just their second win of 2013 and Mallorca are now four points from safety with just four games remaining though as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Levante.
In the day’s other match between two sides with outside hopes of European football next season, a first-half blitz from Sevilla saw them beat Espanyol 3-0.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2013.
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