Messi saves Barca the blushes again

Messi came off the bench to preserve Barcelona’s unbeaten run in La Liga with a sensational late equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Sevilla on Saturday as the runaway leaders came back from two goals down in the space of a minute.

Champions Real Madrid eased to a 3-0 win over lowly Las Palmas with goals from Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema despite missing six regular starters, including top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and captain Sergio Ramos.

Franco Vazquez opened the scoring for Sevilla from close range in the 36th minute and Colombia international Luis Muriel doubled the home side’s lead by smashing in on the rebound five minutes into the second half.

Messi had began the game on the bench due to continued muscle discomfort which caused him to miss Argentina’s friendlies against Italy and Spain and the league’s top scorer was called into action in the 58th minute, replacing Ousmane Dembele.

Barca were instantly lifted as Luiz Suarez pulled one back with an acrobatic finish in the 88th minute and Messi whipped in the equaliser in the 89th with a venomous left-foot strike.

SEVILLE:Lionel

CITY CLOSE IN ON TITLE

Manchester City need just one more win to secure the Premier League title after a blistering first-half display secured a 3-1 win at Everton on Saturday.

City took just four minutes to get in front with a superb volley from Leroy Sane after a fine cross from David Silva. The game was put beyond Everton within 37 minutes with a Gabriel Jesus header and a Raheem Sterling finish making it 3-0.

IBRA OPENS WITH TWO

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice on his LA Galaxy debut including a winner in stoppage time as his new team defeated the upstart LAFC 4-3 in a thrilling match on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic, who came on as a substitute in the 71st minute, scored six minutes later and followed up with a header in the 91st minute.

CARSON (US):