Barcelona vs Malaga preview - Messi happy with return to form

Lionel Messi's return to form has helped fire Barcelona's title challenge but the mercurial playmaker has admitted he suffered "many problems on and off the pitch" last season.

Messi's return of 41 goals last season would count as an outstanding campaign for most mortals, but compared poorly with 60 in 2012-13 and a European record 73 in 2011-12.

Messi battled off-field issues last year as he faced an investigation into his tax affairs and the death of former coach Tito Vilanova in April.

Barcelona lost out on the title to Atletico Madrid on the last day of the season and Messi's disappointing 2014 continued as his Argentina side lost the World Cup final to Germany and he faced rumours over his future on his return to Barcelona.

However, his return to form in 2015 has coincided with an 11-game winning streak for Barca, helping them to within a point of leaders Real Madrid ahead of the weekend visit of Malaga.

"I feel fine," Messi said. "I'm happy with the way things are going. I want to keep helping this team. Last year was not a good one for us. There were too many problems on and off the pitch. But I hope all that changes this year."

Messi is still only 27, but after more than a decade playing at the highest level, he admits he is having to change his approach in order to stay in top shape.

"I am not 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 years old any more, when you're body doesn't feel the strain," he said. "You get older and you feel it. Now I make more of an effort to look after myself at half-time and be careful about what I eat.

"I have changed a lot since I first started out. I'm more mature and I have learned things both on and off the pitch. Some of the old Messi is still here, but not much".

With 37 goals already this campaign, it seems there is more than enough of the old Messi as far as opponents are concerned.

Malaga will arrive in Barcelona riding high in seventh, but they have not won at the Nou Camp since the 1999-2000 season and have recorded only one draw since.

"Barcelona are a very strong team at home and you see thrashings match after match," coach Javi Gracia said. "They give you very few options - those we get we must exploit to the fullest.

"To get something positive we will need circumstances to go our way."