Messi to the rescue for under par Barcelona

Madrid - Lionel Messi scored a spectacular winner as Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Malaga on Saturday.

The European champions were handed the perfect start when Munir El Haddadi tapped home the opener after just 64 seconds, but were far from their best and Malaga deservedly leveled through Juanpi either minutes before the break.
Messi had been struggling with a slight hamstring strain in the past week, but the five-time World Player of the Year made the difference once more as he volleyed home his 20th goal of the season to move Barca a point clear of Atletico Madrid in top spot.
Atletico and Real Madrid - who now trail Barca by five points - are both in action on Sunday when they face Sevilla and Real Betis respectively.
Barcelona was without the injured Neymar and suspended Gerard Pique,