Lionel Messi's audacious chip to score for the fourth time in Barcelona's 5-1 thrashing of Valencia Sunday epitomized the three-time Ballon d'Or winner's mesmerizing skill as he moved past the 40-goal mark for a third straight season. Barcelona had to come from behind to stay within 10 points of Real Madrid, easily answering the Spanish leader's 4-0 rout of Racing Santander one night earlier with a pure display of the football that has crowned it the world's best team. The undoubted star is Messi, whose chip over goalkeeper Diego Alves after being put through by Sergio Busquets gave him his 27th league goal this season, his 42nd in all competitions and his 146th for Barcelona — and in his 200th appearance for the club. Valencia had the early momentum, however, thanks to a ninth-minute goal when Sofiane Feghouli picked out Pablo Piatti's run into the area with a perfectly floated cross for the Argentine to guide the ball past goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Valdes wouldn't be called into action again until midway through the second half to deny Feghouli. Messi's first goal was also memorable, collecting a loose ball inside the area and dribbling near to the goal line, patiently waiting for Alves to commit before sliding it under the goalkeeper in the 22nd minute. Messi had a chance blocked in the 26th before scoring a minute later, the Argentina captain jumping on the rebound to poke the ball into the roof of the net after Alves had initially saved his first shot. Barcelona then simply overwhelmed Valencia, with Cesc Fabregas often coming close, including a spectacular 40th-minute swerving volley that struck the crossbar. Alves was Valencia's standout player, stopping at least a dozen shots, including from substitute Cristian Tello. The rebound, however, allowed Messi to power home his third goal in the 76th. Barcelona was coming off a 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League Tuesday. Earlier, Athletic Bilbao scored three goals in four second-half minutes to beat Malaga 3-0 while Levante's early season success continued to unravel during a winless 2012 after a 5-3 loss to Rayo Vallecano. Espanyol, which drew 1-1 at Getafe Saturday, and Athletic share fourth and the last Champions League qualifying spot behind Valencia, with Atletico Madrid and Levante a further point back. New Sporting Gijon coach Javier Clemente began with a 1-1 draw against Atletico, which remains unbeaten under coach Diego Simeone. Also Sunday, Ikechukwu Uche scored two as Granada rallied to beat 10-man Real Sociedad 4-1 and Victor Casadesus' brace powered Mallorca to a 4-0 win over Villarreal.
