Xavi strikes as Barca down Betis

Posted Monday, January 16, 2012 by Supersport.com

Barcelona playmaker Xavi celebrated his 400th league appearance by scoring the opening goal and Lionel Messi struck twice in a 4-2 home win for the La Liga champions over 10-man Real Betis on Sunday.

Spain international Xavi, the first Barca player to reach the 400 milestone, clipped the ball high into an empty net in the 10th minute at the Nou Camp after a Cesc Fabregas shot had ricocheted back off a post.

Pep Guardiola's side were cruising when Messi added a second two minutes later but Barca conceded their first league goals at home this season when a battling Betis struck either side of the break to make it 2-2.

Betis defender Mario Alvarez was dismissed for a second yellow card 19 minutes from time before Alexis Sanchez ran on to a Xavi pass and fired a 75th-minute third and Messi scored from the spot in the 86th.

With just under half the season played, Real have 46 points from 18 matches thanks to their 2-1 comeback win at Real Mallorca on Saturday, five ahead of Barca.

Valencia, who lost 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad on Saturday, are seven points behind Barca in third.

Real's success in Mallorca was a club record 11th straight victory away from home in all competitions and they host Barca, whom they beat 1-0 in last year's final, in a King's Cup quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.