Lionel Messi created a goal and scored another as Barcelona came from behind to beat struggling Rayo Vallecano 3-1 at home Saturday and stay seven points clear at the top of La Liga. Rayo, which has now lost its last 12 games against Barca, took a shock lead midway through the first half when forward Raul de Thomas — who is on loan from Real Madrid — ran past two defenders before arrowing a shot into the bottom corner. The Madrid side's unlikely lead at the Nou Camp lasted a quarter of an hour and ended when Messi whipped in a free kick for Gerard Pique to appear unmarked and head home. Barca won a penalty early in the second half when Luis Suarez was fouled and Messi converted to put the league leaders in front and the Uruguayan forward made sure of the points with a simple finish from close range in the 82nd minute. The win restored Barca's seven-point gap over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, which earned a 1-0 victory at home to Leganes. Rayo are 19th in the standings and two points from escaping the drop zone as the pressure mounts on coach Michel. Sterling hat trick sends City four clear of Liverpool Raheem Sterling struck a second half hat-trick as champion Manchester City put pressure on title rival Liverpool with a 3-1 win over Watford at the Etihad Stadium Saturday. The win moved Premier League leader City four points clear of Liverpool ahead of its home game against Burnley Sunday. Piatek rescues Milan Krzysztof Piatek struck again to rescue a 2-1 win for AC Milan at bottom club Chievo Saturday, keeping its Champions League push firmly on track, but the Polish striker was accused of scoring with a ‘kung fu' kick. Piatek joined Milan from Genoa in January and has now scored eight goals in nine matches, as the club notched up a fifth straight league win to remain unbeaten since before Christmas. Returning from injury, Lucas Biglia opened with a curling free kick after 31 minutes in Verona. It was just his second goal for Milan and first since February last year. Finnish midfielder Perparim Hetemaj got his head to the end of Leris cross to pull the host level four minutes before the break. But once again Piatek proved crucial, scoring the winner after 57 minutes in controversial circumstances. The 23-year-old met Samu Castillejo's header amid a goalmouth scramble, during which the Pole looked to have struck a Chievo player while attempting an overhead kick. A VAR review confirmed the goal to the fury of Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo. Piatek joins Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo and Sampdoria's Fabio Quagliarella on top of the Serie A scorers' chart with 19 goals this season. Milan consolidated third position to move five points behind second-placed Napoli. Skipper Marcelo injured as Lyon stumble before Barca trip Lyon's stand-in captain Marcelo left the field with a leg injury as his side struggled to a 2-2 draw at Strasbourg Saturday, just days away from the Champions League last 16 second leg at Barcelona. Bruno Genesio's side heads to the La Liga giants with the tie finely balanced at 0-0 after the first leg in France but the Brazilian defender is a doubt for Wednesday's fixture. — Agencies
