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Lionel Messi came off the bench to score twice in the second half for La Liga leaders Barcelona who survived two late dismissals to win 2-1 at Racing Santander.

Racing gave the visitors little space and took the lead after the restart when Nikola Zigic scored from the penalty spot.

Messi's introduction galvanised Barca and the Argentine stole in to score the equaliser within 10 minutes of coming on the pitch, and grabbed the winner nine minutes from time.

Barca, who had Rafael Marquez and Gerard Pique sent off in the closing minutes, restored their 12-point lead at the top of the standings - moving on to 56 points from 21 games.

"I was pleased with the way we kept control of the ball and did not lose our shape when we went behind. It's an honour to work with these players," Barca coach Pep Guardiola said.

"It's another three points and another small step forward." Champions Real Madrid, who beat Numancia 2-0 away on Saturday, are second.

Guardiola left Messi on the bench at the Sardinero and the side missed his pace as they struggled early on.

The height of Racing striker Zigic was a constant threat at set-pieces and by half-time it was the home side who had come closest to scoring when Jonathan Pereira hit the post.

It was Pereira who drew Marquez into a clumsy challenge for the penalty in the 56th minute and Zigic put Racing ahead from the spot.

Messi came on as a substitute soon after and quickly levelled, arriving at the back post to score after Xavi's header came back off the bar.

If the equaliser was a classic poacher's goal, then it was a classic Messi stunner that delivered the three points when the Argentinian collected a miscued clearance to race into the area and fire past Tono in the 81st, for his 16th goal of the campaign.

Barca defenders Marquez and Pique were both sent off for second yellow card offences at the end.

SPORTING GIJON 1-0 SEVILLA

Third-placed Sevilla, with 38 points, lost ground on the leaders after losing a bruising encounter 1-0 away to Sporting Gijon in the late game of the evening.

Sporting missed a fifth-minute penalty before Diego Castro headed them in front, but they were reduced to ten men just before the half-hour mark when Roberto Canella was sent off.

Copa del Rey semi-finalists Sevilla were unable to find a way through their spirited hosts and are now just one point ahead of Valencia.

VALENCIA 3-2 ALMERIA

The return of David Villa from injury helped Valencia get over their midweek exit from the Copa del Rey, but it was tight at the Mestalla.

Joaquin volleyed the home side in front early on only for Alvaro Negredo to level after fine work from Iriney in the 22nd minute. Villa netted a penalty before the break and extended the lead in the 61st.

Negredo set up a nervy finale scoring after a howler from Carlos Marchena, and it needed a great save from Cesar Sanchez to make sure of a Valencia win in the last minute.

ATLETICO MADRID 1-2 REAL VALLADOLID

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre was put under further pressure with this home defeat as they continued their winless start to 2009.

Luis Prieto put Valladolid ahead at a corner in the 50th minute, though Atletico levelled when Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo turned Diego Forlan's shot into his own net. After missing a host of chances, Valladolid's winner came when Victor scored from the penalty spot in the 79th.

DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA 3-0 VILLARREAL

Depor ended a run of three straight defeats in style and were set on their way in the second minute when Angel Lafita raced through to score from a flick on.

Lafita's deflected shot doubled the lead in the 62nd minute and soon after Ivan Riki completed the scoring with a shot off the far post. Villarreal's Marcos Senna had a penalty saved in the 73rd.

ESPANYOL 1-1 RECREATIVO HUELVA

New Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino was denied his first win at the helm by a last-minute penalty from Recre's Marco Ruben when home keeper Carlos Kameni was sent off.

Defender Nico Pareja had put relegation-threatened Espanyol in front with a header from a freekick in the 62nd minute.

OSASUNA 1-0 REAL MALLORCA

Osasuna dragged themselves off the foot of the standings after a stormy win over fellow-strugglers Mallorca, with Walter Pandiani scoring the only goal with a far-post header in the third minute.

Mallorca had defender David Navarro sent off after an hour and goalkeeper Dudu Aouate dismissed in the 78th just after he had saved a penalty from Patxi Punal. Osasuna's Javad Nekounam was also shown a red card at the end.

REAL BETIS 2-2 GETAFE

Betis's underfire coach Paco Chaparro had the perfect start when two goals in the first ten minutes from Juanma and Mark Gonzalez had the home side cruising.

A red card for midfielder Juande in the 33rd minute put them on the back foot and Getafe came back after the break with Ikechukwu Uche scoring a clever solo effort in the 64th and racing through to level soon after.

Betis had goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira to thank for saving a Roberto Soldado penalty in the 78th.

Reuters