Messi keeps Barcelona’s unbeaten run alive in La Liga

Barcelona’s Messi celebrates after scoring against Sevilla during La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, in Seville, Spain on Saturday, March 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Miguel Morenatti)

MADRID — Even without being fully fit and despite playing only a few minutes, Lionel Messi still had enough to keep Barcelona from losing in the Spanish league.

Messi, who recently missed two international friendlies with Argentina because of a leg muscle problem, scored an 89th-minute equalizer in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla on Saturday.

Sevilla led 2-0 until the 88th minute when Luis Suarez scored, then Messi made his mark again a minute later to extend the team’s unbeaten run to 30 matches.

Messi started on the bench at Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and went on in the 58th, not long after Sevilla scored its second through Luis Muriel.

Franco Vazquez put the hosts ahead in the first half.

Suarez scored from inside the area and Messi quickly got the equalizer with a well-placed left-footed shot into the lower corner, taking his league-leading tally to 26.

“He was still bothered (by the muscle problem), but it was already expected that he would play a few minutes,” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said.

Barcelona has lost only three matches this season — two to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and to Espanyol in the Copa del Rey. It was also unbeaten in the last seven league matches last season, and is one match away from equaling the record streak achieved by Real Sociedad from 1978-80.

Barcelona has a 12-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid, which hosts struggling Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

Sevilla stayed in sixth place.

Sevilla and Barcelona will play the Copa del Rey final on April 21 at Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

MADRID KEEPS WINNING

Despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested for Tuesday’s match against Juventus in the Champions League quarterfinals, Madrid defeated Las Palmas 3-0 in the Canary Islands to move within a point of second-place Atletico.

Bale opened the scoring in the 26th minute after a long throughball by Luka Modric, making a run from near the midfield line before entering the area and finding the top corner with a powerful left-footed shot.

Benzema, in his 400th game with Madrid, converted a 39th-minute penalty kick after Lucas Vazquez was fouled inside the area, and Bale netted his second goal by converting another penalty kick early in the second half after he was brought down inside the box.

In addition to Ronaldo, coach Zinedine Zidane rested defender Sergio Ramos, midfielder Francisco “Isco” Alarcon, left back Marcelo, and midfielder Toni Kroos.

“The players who don’t get to play often did a good job,” Zidane said.

It was the fifth straight win for Madrid in all competitions.

GIRONA HELD

Levante held Girona to 1-1, ending the Catalan club’s home winning streak and moving further from the relegation zone.

Girona, in its inaugural season in the first division, had won six straight games at home without conceding any goals.

Girona went ahead early in the second half with a shot by Alex Granell, who found the top corner from outside the area.

Levante equalized less than 15 minutes later through Jose Luis Morales from close range following a quick breakaway.

Girona stayed in seventh place, still in contention for a Europa League spot next season.

Levante remained 17th, but it opened a seven-point lead over Las Palmas, the first team inside the relegation zone. The result extended Levante’s unbeaten streak to four matches. It hasn’t lost since Paco Lopez took over the team after coach Juan Lopez Muniz was fired.

“We moved a point closer to our goal of avoiding relegation,” Lopez said.

CELTA EQUALIZES LATE

Brais Mendez scored in injury time for Celta Vigo to draw at Athletic Bilbao 1-1, a result that kept both teams near the middle of the table.

Celta was ninth, three points ahead of Athletic in 12th.