Messi scores to put Barcelona back on top in Spain

Barcelona

Barcelona moved back to the top of La Liga with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot on 80 minutes after Robin Le Normand had handled in the area, Deutsche Press Agency (dpa) reported.

"We did a lot of things well, and the victory was well deserved," said Barcelona coach Quique Setien.

But he also admitted that the team were fortunate with the award of the second half penalty.

“We won thanks to VAR [video assistant referee],” he said. “From the bench I had not seen the hand ball.”

The match referee also struggled to see the incident. Le Normand made contact with the ball as he was jumping to clear a cross from substitute Arturo Vidal.

Referee Juan Munuera allowed play to continue and Nacho Monreal almost scored at the other end for Real Sociedad.

But Munuera was advised to consult the pitch-side monitor and gave Messi the chance to win the game from the spot.

Messi’s 19th league goal of the season put a gloss on a miserable afternoon for Barcelona.

Supporters protested President Josep Bartomeu at the start and the end of the game and whistled the players during the first half.

Jordi Alba complained: "No one likes to be whistled and even less so in minute 15 with the score at 0-0. I respect everyone but they need to respect me."

Barcelona are now two points clear of Real Madrid, who play Betis on Sunday.

Earlier Atletico Madrid shared the points with Sevilla drawing 2-2 in a battle of Champions League hopefuls.

Luuk de Jong put the visiting Sevilla ahead on 20 minutes after combining with Jesus Navas.

Atletico equalized on 32 minutes from the penalty spot after Diego Carlos had handled in the area.

And the hosts were ahead when Joao Felix ran on to a Koke pass to slot home.

But Kieran Trippier was adjudged to have brought down Lucas Ocampos and the fouled forward scored the spot-kick to level before half time.

The result leaves Atletico fifth, outside of the Champions League places.

Sevilla remain third after fourth-placed Getafe failed to beat Celta Vigo in the late game drawing 0-0.

Earlier Mallorca’s 18-year-old Japanese international Takefusa Kubo scored his third goal of the season as they beat Eibar 2-1.

It was Mallorca's first away win of the campaign and keeps alive their hopes of staying up.

Dani Rodriguez scored the first direct from a free-kick on 42 minutes. And as Eibar pushed for the equalizer in the second half, Kubo scored from the edge of the area with 12 minutes left.

Eibar pulled a goal back two minutes into injury time thanks to a Pedro Bigas header but there was no time to level.

The result is not enough to move Mallorca out of the bottom three, but they are now just one point behind Celta Vigo, who are fourth last.