Lionel Messi had a trio of assists as Barcelona kept pace with La Liga leaders Real Madrid thanks to a 3-2 win over Real Betis in a match that saw both teams finish with 10 players.
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Barcelona came into the match trailing Madrid by six points after the leaders beat Osasuna earlier on Sunday and found themselves trailing Betis early when Sergio Canales converted a penalty for hand ball on Clement Lenglet.
The visitors struck right back with an inspired goal to draw level as Frenkie de Jong settled a perfect Messi long ball with his chest and volleyed past Betis keeper Joel Robles with his second touch.
Barca looked ready to add to their lead, but a bad giveaway in midfield sprang the hosts on the counter-attack finished off with a sumptuous strike from Nabil Fekir to put Betis up 2-1.
Betis were seconds away from taking the lead into the dressing room until a free kick into the area fell to Sergio Busquets and he cooly settled it and beat Robles to again draw Barcelona level right before the referee blew the half-time whistle.
Robles came up with two big saves against Messi in the opening 15 minutes of the second half as Barcelona dominated possession but could not find the go-ahead goal.
Lenglet finally headed Barcelona into the lead shortly after the 70-minute mark, out jumping his defender to redirect a Messi cross into the back of the net to give his team a deserved lead.
Both teams were reduced to to 10 players shortly after the go-ahead goal for Barca, as Fekir was given his second yellow card for dissent and Lenglet also getting a second booking for a foul on Joaquin to set up a tense finish.
The result means Barca finish the day exactly where they started, three points behind Real Madrid.
Source: espn.co.uk