A brace from Lionel Messi enabled Barcelona to edge past Real Sociedad 3-2 on Saturday night at the Camp Nou.

While it was another three points for Barcelona that keeps them just three points behind league leaders Real Madrid with the Clasico set for next Sunday, it was hardly convincing from the Catalonians. 

Barcelona's defence was exposed on many an occasion by the visitors and the home side can count itself fortunate that Real Sociedad failed to equalise in the second-half. 

Still, Messi's brace and a Paco Alcacer goal still proved enough to overcome a Samuel Umtiti own goal and a Xabi Prieto strike. 

For their part, Real Sociedad will rue their missed chances in walking away with a point. The San Sebastian outfit played some very good football and had Barcelona pegged back in their own half for much of the second stanza, a sight rarely seen at the Camp Nou.With Neymar out serving the first match of his three-match suspension, manager Luis Enrique slotted in Alcacer in place of the Brazilian. 

One other notable insertion was Andre Gomes in midfield for the rested Andre Iniesta.An Andre Gomes giveaway and some slack defending in the opening minutes from the Barcelona back four almost resulted in an early goal for Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal, but Gerard Pique stuck his leg out and blocked the shot in front of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Real Sociedad continued to have success getting into the Barcelona area and Oyarzabal had an even better chance to score when he received a cross in from Carlos Vela, but Ter Stegen was alert and blocked the effort.

You can only let off Barcelona so many times before they make you pay, and Real Sociedad lived to tell it when Messi collected a pass from Suarez with time and space and rocketed a shot past Rulli to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead. 

It was Barcelona's first goal since the 3-0 win over Sevilla, more than five halves of football.

Alcacer was making the most of his start, despite missing a sitter, and helped create Barcelona's second of the evening. The back-heel should have been cleared by Zaldua, but Suarez swooped in and fired at Rulli, who managed to block it but the rebound fell right for Messi and it was an easy push into net for La Pulga for a 2-0 lead. The Messi goal set off a wild final 10 minutes of the first-half at the Camp Nou where, truth be told, both defences did little to distinguish themselves. 

Real Sociedad were still having success making runs deep into the Barcelona half and the Basques were able to pull a goal back before half-time when a failed clearance allowed Inigo Martinez to bank in a shot off Umtiti to make it a 2-1 encounter.

But back came Barcelona, as this time Real Sociedad allowed Barcelona to recover possession right outside the area and some quick passing saw Messi find Alcacer, who finished past Rulli to seemingly give Barcelona a 3-1 lead heading into the half-time dressing room.

Real Sociedad had other ideas though, and in the final five seconds of first-half stoppage time Willian Jose picked out a wide open Xabi Prieto and the veteran midfielder redirected the ball into Ter Stegen's net with a right-footer, cutting the Barcelona lead to 3-2 for the start of the second-half.The unease inside the Camp Nou continued to grow in the second-half, as Real Sociedad comfortably passed the ball around in the Barcelona half. If not for some last-ditch clearances from Pique and some poor finishing, Real Sociedad would have scored a third. 

Nevertheless, the fragile state of the Barcelona defence provoked plenty of whistles from the Camp Nou faithful.

Luis Enrique looked to shore up the Barcelona midfield and replaced Andre Gomes with Iniesta, but the chances kept coming for Eusebio's team, including very good looks at goal from Willian Jose and Inigo Martinez. 

Meanwhile, Barcelona failed to muster anything to concern the Real Sociedad defence, and by the final 15 minutes the angst from the home fans could be felt with every lost ball.

Real Sociedad remained a threat and outside of a very late Suarez one-on-one with Rulli, there were few chances for Barcelona. In the end though Luis Enrique's men hung on to claim the victory and keep their chances alive for a league title, with Real Madrid waiting in the wings next Sunday.

 

Match Sheet:

3.- Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Andre Gomes (Iniesta, min. 71); Messi, Suarez, Alcacer (Denis Suarez, min. 80).

2.- Real Sociedad: Rulli; Zaldua, Inigo Martinez, Raul Navas, Yuri; Illarramendi, Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza (Granero, min. 84), Oyarzabal; Willian Jose (Jon Bautista, min. 79), Vela (Canales, min. 62).

Goals: 1-0, min. 17: Messi; 2-0, min. 37: Messi; 2-1, min. 42: Umtiti (og); 3-1, min. 44: Alcacer; 3-2, min. 45+1: Xabi Prieto.

Referee: Martinez Munuera (Valencian). 

Yellow Cards: Vela (Min. 8) for Real Sociedad, Alcacer (Min. 41) for Barcelona, Suarez (Min. 68) for Barcelona, Pique (Min. 88) for Barcelona.

Red cards: None.

Stadium: Camp Nou.

Attendance: 81,704.