LA LIGA leaders Real Madrid ended a miserable week with a morale-boosting 4-1 comeback win at home to 10-man Athletic Bilbao last night that preserved their five-point advantage over Barcelona. Llorente had put the visitors in the lead before a goal by Marcelo, two Ronaldo penalties and a fourth from José María Callejón helped the home side to an emphatic win.

Lionel Messi netted two typically brilliant goals and a rare header as Barcelona won 4-1 at Malaga yesterday. The Argentine World Player of the Year leaped to nod Adriano’s floated cross into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute at the Rosaleda before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.

Any lingering Malaga hopes were snuffed out three minutes later when Messi slotted his second, a trademark run and finish that left the home defence in disarray.

Messi (24), who won a third successive World Player award this month, curled a free kick on to the underside of the crossbar 15 minutes from time before he again left his hapless markers trailing to complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.

Substitute Salomon Rondon, who replaced former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with half an hour remaining, scored a consolation for the home side five minutes from time.