Messi leaves it late to secure win

Substitute Lionel Messi kept up his scoring run in the La Liga as Barcelona strolled to a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday evening.

Alexis Sanchez put hosts Barcelona ahead with a free header from Dani Alves' cross towards the end of the the first half, sending rock-bottom Deportivo towards a seventh defeat in eight games.

And Messi, on as a substitute shortly after the hour, added a delicious second after 87 minutes to put the result beyond doubt, exchanging passes with Alves before chipping the ball delicately over goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia to score for the 17th league game in succession.

Malaga failed to take the maximum points off Valladolid at the Jose Zorrilla stadium, and the 1-1 draw could see them slip out of the Champions League places by the end of the weekend.

Manuel Pellegrini fielded an under-strength side, presumably with the club's Champions League last-16 second-leg match with Porto on Wednesday in mind, resting Isco and Joaquin.

His team got off to a great start when Martin Demichelis headed them into the lead after eight minutes, but Manucho equalised for the hosts shortly before half-time.

Rayo Vallecano moved to within two points of the Champions League places after a convincing 2-0 win at home to Espanyol.

An early goal by Chori Dominguez gave the Madrid-based side the perfect start and Piti wrapped up the points by netting after 77 minutes.
 
Alejandro Alfaro gave Real Mallorca's survival hopes another boost as his two goals helped see off Sevilla 2-1.

A week after he scored his first league goal of the season as Mallorca came from behind to win at Granada, the forward netted in each half to move his side up to third bottom, just one point from safety.

Alvaro Negredo briefly levelled for Sevilla just after the hour mark, but, with the lively Giovani Dos Santos causing plenty of problems, the hosts fully deserved their win.

They finished the match with 10 men after the sending off of Javi Marquez for a second yellow card in the third minute of stoppage time, but by then the work was done.