Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance in La Liga with an 12th minute goal – his 356th for his club – as the leaders Barcelona beat Levante at the Camp Nou to restore their nine-point advantage.

The in-form Luis Suárez added a second before the break and Paulinho tapped in a late third as Barcelona consolidated first place ahead of Atlético Madrid, who had beaten Getafe on Saturday.

The midfielder Ousmane Dembélé, fit again after sustaining a hamstring injury on his league debut following a €105m (£93m) move, came back into the starting XI while the Barcelona captain, Andrés Iniesta, made his 650th appearance.

Levante almost scored at the start of the second half when Ivi forced Ter Stegen into a fine reaction save. The Barcelona goalkeeper had to be alert again on 65 minutes as he stuck out a leg to block a low shot from Shaquell Moore, who had ghosted in at the far post.

With three minutes remaining, there was some concern when Alba went down clutching his knee following an awkward fall after a challenge against the Levante substitute Samuel. The defender, though, was able to continue following treatment. Barcelona added a third in stoppage time when Paulinho tapped in from close range after Suárez stepped over a low cross from Messi.

Bale scores twice as Real Madrid are held by Celta Vigo

Maxi Gomez headed a late equaliser to earn Celta Vigo a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid at Balaidos, where Gareth Bale had scored twice in as many first-half minutes.



The home side had taken the lead on 33 minutes through a fine chip by Daniel Wass, only for Bale – fit again following a calf problem – to swiftly draw Real level. The Welshman swept in another on 38 minutes to complete the turnaround. Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas then saved a second-half penalty from Iago Aspas before, with only eight minutes left, Gomez nodded in a deserved equaliser. Fourth-placed Real now trail Barcelona, by 16 points, albeit with a match in hand.