Lionel Messi scored twice in a dominant second-half performance by Barcelona to thrash Alaves 5-1 in La Liga on Saturday.

With
this win, Barcelona might not be able to catch Atletico
Madrid but they will definitely fancy their chances against Paris Saint-Germain
in the Champions League.

Messi fired in two sensational long-range
efforts and would have had a hat-trick at Camp Nou had a dubious VAR decision
in the first half not ruled Antoine Griezmann offside.

He did tee up a second of the night for the
21-year-old Francisco Trincao and was instrumental in Junior Firpo adding a
fifth too, a flamboyant scoop freeing Griezmann to send a pass to Firpo at the
back post.

Despite the victory, Barcelona trail Atletico
Madrid by eight points although a loss would have seen Roja Blancos after 11
clear of the Catalan giants.

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Atletico earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over
Granada earlier on Saturday.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both played a
game more than Atleti, with Zinedine Zidane’s side facing Valencia at home on
Sunday.

Atletico’s win was a significant psychological
boost on the back of slipping up for the first time in nine games at home to
Celta Vigo earlier this week.

Their advantage may prove too large to close
but Barcelona’s tie against PSG in the Champions League, which looked to have
the French side as firm favourites when the draw was made in December, now
feels harder to call.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side will probably be
favourites ahead of the first leg at Camp Nou on Tuesday but Barca have
certainly found form in recent weeks, and Messi looks close to his lethal best.

With Gerard Pique and the emerging Ronald
Araujo both out injured, Frenkie de Jong filled in again in central defence,
although the Dutchman has arguably been Barcelona’s most improved player this
year in the midfield three.

Instead there was a start for Ilaix Kourouma
in midfield, the 18-year-old academy product who assisted Trincao’s opening
goal but whose misplaced pass led to Luis Rioja briefly giving Alaves hope.

After Trincao had swept home, Messi thought he
had made it two, pouncing on a rebound after Griezmann missed but the goal was
ruled out, even though replays suggested Griezmann was onside.

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Messi made amends soon after, latching onto a
Sergio Busquets pass, darting in-field and ripping a shot in off the post.

Rioja capitalised on Ilaix’s mistake just
before the hour but Barca pulled away with three goals in six minutes.

Pedri’s pass freed Messi but he failed to
round Fernando Pacheco and instead the ball spilt out for Trincao to score
his second. Messi slammed a stinging strike into the top corner from 25 yards to
make it 4-1 before perhaps the goal of the night came last, Messi scooping over
for Griezmann, who volleyed to the back post where Firpo could not miss.