La Liga: Messi at double as Barcelona beat Valencia, Atletico Madrid see off stuttering Sevilla

Barcelonas Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with Barcelonas Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez after scoring a goal PicsAFPBarcelona Lionel Messi scored twice as La Liga champions Barcelona saw off a persistent Valencia side who had Eliaquim Mangala sent off in the first half to win 42 on Sunday and stay on the heels of leaders Real MadridBarcelonas Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring a goalManchester City loanee Mangala stunned the Nou Camp by heading Valencia in front in the 29th minute but Luis Suarez soon cancelled out the opener following a quick throwin by Neymar and the Uruguayan then won a penalty as he was hauled down by Mangala who was sent off for a second bookingMessi beat penaltysaving expert Diego Alves from the spot for the second time this season to pull Barca level in the 45th minute but Munir El Haddadi who is on loan from the Catalans equalised immediately in injury time of the first halfBarca dominated the second half and took the lead for the second time when Messi smashed the ball past Alvess near post but the visiting side created an opening to level again but Munir squandered the chanceBarcelonas Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes L celebrates with Barcelonas defender Gerard Pique R after scoring a goalFormer Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes then scored his first goal for Barcelona to make sure of the pointsBarca are second in the standings on 63 points two behind Real who have a game in handWe controlled the game but they made the most of a set piece and a counter attack Overall we played well we played at a high tempo and in general we can be happy with the game Barca captain Andres Iniesta told reporters The title race is still alive and were obliged to stay up there and take advantage of any opportunity we get if Real Madrid slip upEarlier Antoine Griezmann scored for the fifth time in four league games and provided an assist as Atletico Madrid beat Sevilla 31 to move to within two points of Jorge Sampaolis thirdplaced side in the La Liga standingsThe France international delivered a cross from a free kick for Diego Godin to head in the opener in the 37th minute then sent the ball fizzing in off the bar from a setpiece in the 61st while Koke tapped in the third in the 77th to seal a third straight league win for AtleticoJoaquin Correa scored a consolation goal for Sevilla in the 85thWhile Atletico are in the midst of a good run of results Sevilla are in freefall They have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions They have now lost their last two matches as they went out of the Champions League following a 20 defeat at Leicester City on TuesdaySevilla have 57 points while Atletico are in fourth place on 55Sevilla have had a magnificent season praised by everyone and so this makes our performance even more laudable Atletico coach Diego Simeone told reportersSevilla boss Sampaoli said his side had made a bad start to the game and lost focus at vital momentsWe couldnt control the psychology of the game We were dominated at first then just as we started to control the game they scored from a set piece he saidIn the second half the same thing happened and it was all uphill from then onAlso on Sunday Celta Vigo won the Galician derby at Deportivo La Coruna 10 thanks to a late goal from Iago Aspas while Sporting Gijon beat Granada 31 to leapfrog the Andalusians into 18th but remain in the relegation zoneLeganes are five points above Sporting in 17th after drawing 00 at home to Malaga