Barca ever closer
Barcelona took another step towards the title after coming from behind to beat Almeria 3-1 and keep their eight point lead at the top of the table on Saturday.
Earlier Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 and with the top two sides due to meet next week at the Bernabeu a defeat could have added spice to the clasico.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola warned of the importance of winning this game with some difficult clashes ahead but decided to rest several players after their mid-week Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
In midfield youngster Thiago Alcantara was given a rare start while Bojan Krkic played in attack and the changes appeared to affect the rhythm of the side.
Javier Mascherano picked up a yellow card and will miss the game against Real Madrid through suspension.
In the second half Pablo Piatti broke for Almeria and played in Miguel Corona who gave the visitors the lead but the goal eventually brought Barca to life.
David Villa having come on for Bojan was brought down in the box and Messi converted the penalty.
Then Thiago headed home a corner and in stoppage time Messi struck again to give a convincing win in the end.
Real Madrid kept on Barcelona's trail with a Kaka brace from the penalty spot helping them to a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
With Barcelona's substantial lead, Real's main objective is now the Champions League and coach Jose Mourinho also chose to rest players with Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil all missing from the starting lineup.
Athletic chasing a Europa League place started the stronger with plenty of possession but they always looked exposed at the back.
RESULTS
Athletic Bilbao 0 Real Madrid 3 (Kaka 13-pen, 54-pen, Ronaldo 70)
Barcelona 3 (Messi 52-pen, 91, Thiago 63) Almeria 1 (Corona 49)
Real Mallorca 2 (Aki 16, De Guzman 43) Sevilla 2 (Negredo 31-pen, Rakitic 68)
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