Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona overcame some nervy moments
to comfortably beat relegation-threatened Tenerife at the Nou Camp
to put the pressure back on fierce rivals Real Madrid as the Primera
Division draws to an exciting conclusion.
Madrid travel to fourth-placed Mallorca tomorrow night in what
looks like the hardest remaining fixture for Manuel Pellegrini's
side.
And they will need to win it after Barca saw off Tenerife thanks
to goals from Messi (2), Bojan Krkic and Pedro.
But it was harder than many had expected and Barca were forced
to work for their win after the Canary Islanders had equalised Messi's
opener through Roman Martinez.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola had expected a tough match, though, having
said in the build-up that this game would be similar to the one
Barca won here against bottom club Xerez.
That clash ended 3-1, and had it not been for Messi's injury-time
strike, this one would have as well.
The Argentinian began up front alongside youngster Bojan and the
much-criticised Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
And as has happened so often this season, the Catalans played their
best football of the match when the Swede was no longer on the pitch.
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