Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona recovered from a goal down to defeat relegation-threatened Almería 3-1 and consolidate their eight-point lead over Real Madrid. Barca’s good comeback win was marred by the news that Bojan Krkić had suffered a season ending knee injury.
In the first meeting between these two clubs in November, Barca had scored eight goals, so Barca fans had to be surprised to see the game still scoreless at half-time.
If you were surprised at the half-time score, then you must have been shocked to see Miguel Angel Corona finish off Pablo Piatti’s pass five minutes into the second half to give Almeria a 1-0 lead.
Any thoughts of an upset were ended within a couple of minutes when Messi scored from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Diego Alves had clipped David Villa as he ran on to Gabriel Milito’s raking pass.
Villa had come on as a first-half substitute for Krkić, who is out for two months after suffering a partial ligament tear in his left knee.
A first Liga goal of the season from teenage midfielder Thiago Alcántara, a header from a Messi corner, edged Barcelona in front, though it was not until added time that Barca wrapped up all 3 points when who else but Messi, scored his second and Barca’s third, witha deft chip over Alves.
