Lionel Messi shrugged off his recent woes from the penalty spot with a decisive 94th-minute spot-kick to move Barcelona top of La Liga with a pulsating 3-2 win at Valencia on Saturday.

Messi netted twice and his opener midway through the first half was allowed to stand despite Luis Suarez straying into an offside position.

However, it was Valencia who were up in arms at the officials when Messi opened the scoring on 22 minutes.

The Argentine&#39;s fifth goal in three games since returning from a groin injury sneaked in at Alves&#39;s near post, but the Brazilian goalkeeper had been distracted by the presence of the offside Suarez jumping over Messi&#39;s effort.

&quot;It is lamentable, absolutely lamentable that refereeing decisions prevented Valencia from taking a point or more from this match,&quot; Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch told BeIN Sports Spain.

Valencia hit back with two goals in six second-half minutes through on-loan Barca winger Munir El Haddadi and Rodrigo.

Valencia&#39;s lead lasted just six minutes despite Alves&#39;s best efforts as Suarez pounced to smash home a rebound after Ivan Rakitic&#39;s powerful header had been saved by the Valencia stopper.

Barca swarmed forward in search of a winner, but had to wait until deep into stoppage time when Messi played in Suarez and he was clearly taken out from behind by Abdennour. Messi stroked home his 14th goal of the season to secure a vital three points in the title race.

A bad-tempered encounter spilled over after Messi&#39;s strike, though, as Suarez and Neymar were hit by a plastic bottle thrown by the Valencia fans as Barca celebrated.

The victory moves the champions a point clear of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who face Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao respectively on Sunday.

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But as Barcelona celebrated, a teary-eyed captain Andres Iniesta was carried from the field following a knee injury, possibly ruled out for six to eight weeks. (AFP)
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However, the dramatic victory came at a cost for Barca as a tearful Andres Iniesta suffered ligament damage in his right knee that could keep him out for several months.

The game was only 14 minutes old when Iniesta was carried from the field in tears holding his right knee, which buckled under a heavy challenge from Enzo Perez.

Barca confirmed Iniesta suffered lateral collateral ligament damage, but said further tests would be carried out to determine the exact extent of the injury.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Messi, who had struggled from the penalty spot in recent seasons, netted twice earning crucial points to move Barca to the top spot

Lionel Messi shrugged off his recent woes from the penalty spot with a decisive 94th-minute spot-kick to move Barcelona top of La Liga with a pulsating 3-2 win at Valencia on Saturday. Messi netted twice and his opener midway through the first half was allowed to stand despite Luis Suarez straying into an offside position. However, it was Valencia who were up in arms at the officials when Messi opened the scoring on 22 minutes. The Argentine's fifth goal in three games since returning from a groin injury sneaked in at Alves's near post, but the Brazilian goalkeeper had been distracted by the presence of the offside Suarez jumping over Messi's effort. "It is lamentable, absolutely lamentable that refereeing decisions prevented Valencia from taking a point or more from this match," Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch told BeIN Sports Spain. Valencia hit back with two goals in six second-half minutes through on-loan Barca winger Munir El Haddadi and Rodrigo. Valencia's lead lasted just six minutes despite Alves's best efforts as Suarez pounced to smash home a rebound after Ivan Rakitic's powerful header had been saved by the Valencia stopper. Barca swarmed forward in search of a winner, but had to wait until deep into stoppage time when Messi played in Suarez and he was clearly taken out from behind by Abdennour. Messi stroked home his 14th goal of the season to secure a vital three points in the title race. A bad-tempered encounter spilled over after Messi's strike, though, as Suarez and Neymar were hit by a plastic bottle thrown by the Valencia fans as Barca celebrated. The victory moves the champions a point clear of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who face Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao respectively on Sunday. But as Barcelona celebrated, a teary-eyed captain Andres Iniesta was carried from the field following a knee injury, possibly ruled out for six to eight weeks. (AFP) × However, the dramatic victory came at a cost for Barca as a tearful Andres Iniesta suffered ligament damage in his right knee that could keep him out for several months. The game was only 14 minutes old when Iniesta was carried from the field in tears holding his right knee, which buckled under a heavy challenge from Enzo Perez. Barca confirmed Iniesta suffered lateral collateral ligament damage, but said further tests would be carried out to determine the exact extent of the injury. (AFP)

La Liga: Messi's penalty pushes Barcelona ahead of Valencia

Real Madrid must match the intensity of a stunning first 45 minutes urged coach Zinedine Zidane after snapping a four-game draw streak with a 6-1 rout at Real Betis on Saturday.

Zidane&#39;s men surrendered top spot on goal difference to city rivals Atletico Madrid with three consecutive La Liga draws, along with a point at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, prior to the international break.

However, a two-week layoff seemed to do the European champions a world of good as they stormed into a 4-0 lead before half-time to blow Betis away.

&quot;After four draws we had to have a game like this. We played with the necessary intensity to win,&quot; said Zidane.

&quot;There are no small teams (in this league). This is a difficult place to come but we started strongly and it is tough for the opponent when we play like that.&quot;

Zidane had slammed his side&#39;s slow starts earlier this season, in particular in dropping points at home to Basque minnows Eibar last time out.

&quot;They are intelligent, good players. They know we have to start in that manner and they did well. 
When we play with the intensity required it makes it very difficult for the opponent. We have worked on that, but we need to be consistent. This match is a reference point.&quot;

Victory took Real back level with Atletico at the top after Los Rojiblancos went one better in a 7-1 thrashing of Granada earlier on Saturday.

And Zidane insists big wins for Atletico, Barcelona and Sevilla that saw Real slip to fourth before kick-off hadn&#39;t played an extra motivating factor in their sudden return to form.

&quot;You can have a look and see what is happening, but that is independent of what we have to do,&quot; he added.

&quot;We have the obligation to give everything in every game we play. We are all satisfied, but we must continue like this.&quot;

Raphael Varane got Madrid off to the perfect start when he headed home Toni Kroos&#39;s free-kick after just four minutes.

&quot;The intensity we started with made everything a lot easier,&quot; said Varane.

&quot;We have spoken a lot in the past few days about improving that aspect of our play and everyone responded well today.&quot;

Karim Benzema slotted home the second from another Kroos assist before Marcelo added a third.

It was Real&#39;s fourth, though, that stole the show as a sweeping team move involving five players stormed from a Betis corner all the way down the other end of the field in seconds before Isco tapped into an empty net.

&quot;I will watch it again and enjoy it,&quot; said a smiling Zidane.

Alvaro Cejudo pulled a goal back for Betis at the start of the second-half, but a stunning strike from Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off the scoring.

&quot;I needed a game like that. I needed a little bit of confidence and that will come with more minutes,&quot; said Isco, who was making a rare start in the absence of the injured Luka Modric and James Rodriguez.

&quot;I still don&#39;t have full match fitness, but I hope to keep improving bit-by-bit.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told his team they played with the intensity to win after their 6-1 win over Betis

Real Madrid must match the intensity of a stunning first 45 minutes urged coach Zinedine Zidane after snapping a four-game draw streak with a 6-1 rout at Real Betis on Saturday. Zidane's men surrendered top spot on goal difference to city rivals Atletico Madrid with three consecutive La Liga draws, along with a point at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, prior to the international break. However, a two-week layoff seemed to do the European champions a world of good as they stormed into a 4-0 lead before half-time to blow Betis away. "After four draws we had to have a game like this. We played with the necessary intensity to win," said Zidane. "There are no small teams (in this league). This is a difficult place to come but we started strongly and it is tough for the opponent when we play like that." Zidane had slammed his side's slow starts earlier this season, in particular in dropping points at home to Basque minnows Eibar last time out. "They are intelligent, good players. They know we have to start in that manner and they did well. When we play with the intensity required it makes it very difficult for the opponent. We have worked on that, but we need to be consistent. This match is a reference point." Victory took Real back level with Atletico at the top after Los Rojiblancos went one better in a 7-1 thrashing of Granada earlier on Saturday. And Zidane insists big wins for Atletico, Barcelona and Sevilla that saw Real slip to fourth before kick-off hadn't played an extra motivating factor in their sudden return to form. "You can have a look and see what is happening, but that is independent of what we have to do," he added. "We have the obligation to give everything in every game we play. We are all satisfied, but we must continue like this." Raphael Varane got Madrid off to the perfect start when he headed home Toni Kroos's free-kick after just four minutes. "The intensity we started with made everything a lot easier," said Varane. "We have spoken a lot in the past few days about improving that aspect of our play and everyone responded well today." Karim Benzema slotted home the second from another Kroos assist before Marcelo added a third. It was Real's fourth, though, that stole the show as a sweeping team move involving five players stormed from a Betis corner all the way down the other end of the field in seconds before Isco tapped into an empty net. "I will watch it again and enjoy it," said a smiling Zidane. Alvaro Cejudo pulled a goal back for Betis at the start of the second-half, but a stunning strike from Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off the scoring. "I needed a game like that. I needed a little bit of confidence and that will come with more minutes," said Isco, who was making a rare start in the absence of the injured Luka Modric and James Rodriguez. "I still don't have full match fitness, but I hope to keep improving bit-by-bit." (AFP)

Zidane commends Real Madrid after victory over Betis

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will return to action for Real Madrid&#39;s La Liga game with Villarreal on Wednesday, coach Zinedine Zidane said. 
 
Ronaldo, Real&#39;s all-time top scorer, missed Sunday&#39;s 2-0 win at Espanyol with a sore throat while record signing Bale was out with a hip injury sustained in the Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon. 
 
&quot;They are both well, they trained normally and are both 100 per cent,&quot; Zidane told a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the&nbsp;game with Villarreal, who are unbeaten this season having won two and drawn two of their four games. 
 
The return of Bale and Ronaldo means Zidane will be able to start with his first choice front three, Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, for the first time in a league game this season. 
 
Veteran defender Pepe, however, will miss out after finishing the Espanyol game injured and goalkeeper Keylor Navas has still not recovered from surgery on his Achilles. 
 
Real are top of La Liga and are the only team in the top flight to have won all four of their opening games. 
 
Despite equalling a La Liga record of 16 consecutive wins last Sunday in beating Espanyol, however, Zidane&#39;s side have been criticised by Spanish media for their uninspiring performances. 
 
The European champions needed an 89th-minute equaliser and a stoppage-time winner to beat Sporting last week in the Champions League&nbsp;and had nervous moments against Espanyol before Benzema sealed the points. 
 
Zidane, however, shrugged off the negative comments. 
 
&quot;Criticism is expected here, you know when you are a player or coach here that you will face greater demands than anywhere else, you know that when you sign for Real Madrid,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;You can always improve whether you&#39;re a player or a coach but we are doing pretty well,&quot; the Frenchman added. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re going to try and improve our play and keep a clean sheet. But we know we&#39;ll have a very difficult game at home, against a very good side who are unbeaten, so we&#39;ll have to prepare for the game well.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Ronaldo missed Sunday's 2-0 win at Espanyol with a sore throat while Bale was out with a hip injury

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will return to action for Real Madrid's La Liga game with Villarreal on Wednesday, coach Zinedine Zidane said. Ronaldo, Real's all-time top scorer, missed Sunday's 2-0 win at Espanyol with a sore throat while record signing Bale was out with a hip injury sustained in the Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon. "They are both well, they trained normally and are both 100 per cent," Zidane told a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the game with Villarreal, who are unbeaten this season having won two and drawn two of their four games. The return of Bale and Ronaldo means Zidane will be able to start with his first choice front three, Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, for the first time in a league game this season. Veteran defender Pepe, however, will miss out after finishing the Espanyol game injured and goalkeeper Keylor Navas has still not recovered from surgery on his Achilles. Real are top of La Liga and are the only team in the top flight to have won all four of their opening games. Despite equalling a La Liga record of 16 consecutive wins last Sunday in beating Espanyol, however, Zidane's side have been criticised by Spanish media for their uninspiring performances. The European champions needed an 89th-minute equaliser and a stoppage-time winner to beat Sporting last week in the Champions League and had nervous moments against Espanyol before Benzema sealed the points. Zidane, however, shrugged off the negative comments. "Criticism is expected here, you know when you are a player or coach here that you will face greater demands than anywhere else, you know that when you sign for Real Madrid," he said. "You can always improve whether you're a player or a coach but we are doing pretty well," the Frenchman added. "We're going to try and improve our play and keep a clean sheet. But we know we'll have a very difficult game at home, against a very good side who are unbeaten, so we'll have to prepare for the game well." (Reuters)

Ronaldo and Bale to make Real return against Villarreal

Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to come back stronger for the coming season after suffering a knee injury in Portugal&#39;s triumphant Euro 2016 final earlier this month. 
 
The Real Madrid forward, who is in this year&#39;s Best Player in Europe shortlist, was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after 25 minutes in the final against hosts France. 
 
&quot;I just wanted to thank all my fans,&quot; Ronaldo said in a video on his Instagram account. 
 
&quot;I wanted to tell them that all is well and that I will come back much stronger. Thank you, long live Portugal.&quot; 
 
The thirty-one-year-old, who racked up 51 goals in 48 games last season, scored the decisive penalty to seal Real&#39;s second Champions League final success over local rivals Atletico Madrid in three years. 
 
La Liga runners-up Real begin their 2016-17 campaign, in what will be manager Zinedine Zidane&#39;s first full season in charge, away to Real Sociedad on August 21. 
 
(Reuters)

The Portuguese forward was forced to leave the field due to an injury after 25 minutes in the 2016 Euro final

Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to come back stronger for the coming season after suffering a knee injury in Portugal's triumphant Euro 2016 final earlier this month. The Real Madrid forward, who is in this year's Best Player in Europe shortlist, was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after 25 minutes in the final against hosts France. "I just wanted to thank all my fans," Ronaldo said in a video on his Instagram account. "I wanted to tell them that all is well and that I will come back much stronger. Thank you, long live Portugal." The thirty-one-year-old, who racked up 51 goals in 48 games last season, scored the decisive penalty to seal Real's second Champions League final success over local rivals Atletico Madrid in three years. La Liga runners-up Real begin their 2016-17 campaign, in what will be manager Zinedine Zidane's first full season in charge, away to Real Sociedad on August 21. (Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo pledges to come back stronger after knee injury

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La Liga: Messi's penalty pushes Barcelona ahead of Valencia

Zidane commends Real Madrid after victory over Betis

Ronaldo and Bale to make Real return against Villarreal

Cristiano Ronaldo pledges to come back stronger after knee injury