Jeremy Mathieu scored a brilliant header to lead Barcelona to a narrow 1-0 victory against Celta Vigo at the Balaidos stadium on Sunday.
Barcelona had to work much harder at Celta Vigo, but Mathieu scored in the 73rd minute to eke out a 1-0 victory that maintained their advantage with nine rounds to go.
Messi and the rest of Barcelona's attack was kept in check by Celta's pressure until the hosts tired and Barcelona increased their control with Xavi Hernandez coming on as a second-half substitute.
The veteran playmaker made the most of a free kick earned by Luis Suarez by picking out Mathieu at the far post, and the defender did the rest by fending off Andreu Fontas' mark to head the ball in off the crossbar. Mathieu scored a similar header for the opening goal in last round's 2-1 win over Madrid.
"It was a tough, very difficult game," Mathieu said. "Celta was better than us in the first half, but sometimes games are decided in the details."
Celta's Fabian Orellana earned a direct red card with three to play after he threw a piece of turf and hit Barcelona's Sergio Busquets.
The Catalan giants are now four points clear of the second placed rival Real Madrid at the top of La Liga table.
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