Two assists from Lionel Messi helped Barcelona remain in first place in the closely contested La Liga title race with a 2-0 win over 10-man Real Betis.

All three title contenders were victorious on Saturday, leaving Barcelona on top with 85 points. They hold the head-to-head tiebreakers over both Atletico Madrid, who also have 85 points, and Real Madrid, a point back on 84, with two games remaining.

The first half at Betis featured more yellow cards than shots, with two of the seven bookings going to Heiko Westermann, who was sent off after bringing down Barca's Ivan Rakitic in the 35th minute.

Barcelona started to make their advantage count in the second half as Luis Suarez, who recorded hat tricks in his previous two league games, missed wide from nine yards after being played though by Messi.

The Argentine kept up his fine service minutes later when his lofted pass into the box fell between defender German Pezzella and the onrushing goalkeeper Antonio Adan. The ball fell to Rakitic, who tapped in to give Barcelona the lead in the 50th minute.

Suarez again squandered an excellent chance when he received a pass from Messi in the centre of the box, only to shoot directly at Adan.

But the Uruguayan made no mistake in the 81st minute after Messi delivered his best pass of the night, a long low delivery from near midfield that evaded five defenders before landing on the foot of Suarez.

Gareth Bale was Real Madrid's hero for the second week running as the Wales international headed home the only goal late on in a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad late on.

Bale nodded in Lucas Vazquez's cross with 10 minutes remaining to decide a tense game at Anoeta against a Sociedad side who had beaten Barcelona earlier in the month.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were still injured for Madrid and, with the Champions League semifinal second leg against Manchester City looming next Wednesday, Zidane rested Marcelo, Dani Carvajal, Jese, Pepe and Toni Kroos.

Atletico Madrid remain a point ahead of their city rivals, though, after they battled to a 1-0 victory at home to Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone followed in Zidane's footsteps by making changes to his side ahead of the Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich on Tuesday, but they emerged with the three points through a goal from substitute Antoine Griezmann in the 55th minute, just 40 seconds after his introduction.

Rayo, who remain just two points above the relegation zone, actually had more efforts at goal than Simeone's team but a lack of quality in the final third prevented them from capitalising.

In the day's final game, Granada boosted their survival hopes by coming from 2-0 down to beat Las Palmas 3-2.

Jonathan Viera scored twice in the first 12 minutes for the visitors but Granada were level by the 22nd minute through Ruben Rochina and Youssef El-Arabi.

Rochina then set up Ricardo Costa for a second-half winner to lift Granada out of the bottom three by a point.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by PA Sport & ESPN staff

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