Barcelona 3 Real Sociedad 2: Lionel Messi’s brace helped close the gap on leaders Real Madrid to just three points after Barca edged a five-goal thriller
All the goals came in the first half, where both sides were guilty of woeful defending, but Barcelona get back to winning ways after suffering back-to-back defeats
LIONEL MESSI bagged a brace at the Nou Camp as Barcelona close the gap on leaders Real Madrid to three points after beating Real Sociedad 3-2.
All the goals came in the opening 45 minutes, but Luis Enrique will be concerned how sloppy his team were in defence, as well as in possession.
After a nervy start from Barca, their fans finally had something to cheer about when Lionel Messi scored a sumptuous 30-yard strike for his 44th goal of the season - his 28th in La Liga.
Picking up the ball from Luis Suarez, the Argentinian magician took one touch before he unleashed a rasping drive that nestled into the bottom right corner in the 16th minute.
It was that man who doubled Luis Enrique's side's lead, although his second goal was far less glamorous than his opener, bumbling home the ball into an empty net after Geronimo Rulli parried Luis Suarez's attempt.
Sociedad then made things interesting when Smauel Umtiti scored an own goal in the 41st minute after great work from Inigo Martinez, who smashed the ball against the French defender from the byline.
However Barcelona scored almost immediately, as Paco Alcacer restored their two-goal advantage when Paco Alcacer netted just his fourth goal of the season, with a well-taken left footed strike into the bottom corner.
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But Eusebio Sacristan's team were not giving in, and cut their lead in half yet again as they scored at the end of the first half - Xabi Prieto beautifully volleying home into the corner leaving Marc-Andre ter Stegen no chance.
The second half was a totally different game to the one fans were treated to in the opening period, with Barca sluggish in possesion, and both sides failing to create any real chances.
In the 70th minute, Asier Illarramendi almost scored a wonder goal from the halfway line, catching ter Stegen out with a free-kick, before the German goalkeeper tipped his effort over the bar.
Barcelona stay in second place with next week's El Clasico looming, while Real Sociedad stay in seventh spot.