Barcelona returned to winning ways with talisman Lionel Messi scoring twice and providing one assist in a 3-2 win over Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou Saturday.
Messi, who went missing in the Catalans’ 3-0 capitulation at Juventus in the Champions League Tuesday, will need to be in this form if they are to produce another miracle and advance into the last four.
The Argentine magician smashed home an effort from 25 yards to open the scoring and calm the nerves of fans who were chanting “yes we can”, in reference to another “Remontada” when Juve come visiting next week.
Messi then took his tally for the season to a staggering 45 goals in 44 games, albeit with a far less spectacular effort as he bundled home from close range after Geronimo Rulli had saved from Luis Suarez.
The match then took an unexpected turn in a crazy three-minute spell that produced as many goals after Samuel Umtiti turned Inigo Martinez’s driven effort into his own net to spark life into Sociedad.
Paco Alcacer, in for the suspended Neymar, quickly restored Barca’s two-goal lead with a cool finish from Messi’s pass.
However, Sociedad hit the back of the net straight from kick-off as Xabi Prieto guided William Jose’s cross into the bottom corner.
Luis Enrique’s men stuttered in the second-half but held on to the precious three points in the end as Sociedad struggled to make the most of their attacking forays.