Messi nets two, extends scoring run to 9 games in Barca draw

Lionel Messi extended his scoring run to nine straight games with two goals as Barcelona came back from a two-goal deficit to draw with Valencia 2-2 in the Spanish league yesterday.

Messi's brace took his leagueleading tally to 21 in 22 rounds.

After equalizing for the host, Messi needed to receive a massage on his inner right leg. He stayed in the match but didn't threaten to score again.

Messi's scare comes four days before Barcelona hosts Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.

"Please don't let it be anything serious," Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena said. "We hope he will be back in full form on Wednesday."

Barcelona's winning streak in la Liga ended at eight matches in a row. It leads second-placed Atletico Madrid by six points before its closest title rival visits Real Betis on Sunday.

Kevin Gameiro put Valencia ahead and Dani Parejo added a second goal by converting a penalty.

But Messi pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 39th before scoring from outside the box in the 64th.

Spanish police in Valencia arrested 11 Getafe fans after clashes with Levante supporters before their match yesterday.

National Police say the arrests were made near Levante's stadium before the Spanish league game.

Getafe says that it "condemns any and all acts of violence". The match ended 0-0. In another match yesterday Real Sociedad defeated Athletic Bilbao in a Basque region derby.