Barcelona emerged victorious against Villarreal in a highly entertaining game although they could easily, and probably should have, been two goals down within the first eight minutes as the home side missed two relative sitters.
Messi, who else, opened the scoring in the twentieth minute following a great move by Bojan and Xavi and then Xavi added a second about fifteen minutes later from a free kick.
Bojan made it three with a great individual effort just before the break. In the second half, Llorente pulled one back for Villarreal but Messi restored the gap with his second goal of the night just before the end.
Málaga are teetering on the edge after only managing a 1-1 draw at home to Sporting and are only avoiding the final relegation spot by virtue of goal difference.