LIONEL Messi's astonishing recent goal glut continued when he struck twice in a 2-0 win for Barcelona at struggling Racing Santander yesterday that cut Real Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to 10 points.

The Argentine World Player of the Year took his tally to 13 goals in his last five games for Barca, including a record five in Wednesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. Real had to come from a goal down to beat Real Betis 3-2 in Seville on Saturday when they set a club record of 10 successive wins on the road in coach Jose Mourinho's 100th game in charge. With 12 matches left, Real have 70 points with champions Barca on 60.

Valencia dropped further behind the leaders in third on 44 points after they let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Real Mallorca yesterday. Messi put Barca ahead in the 29th minute at the Sardinero in Santander when he slid in to turn a Cesc Fabregas centre into the net from close range. He doubled the lead with a 56th-minute penalty following a foul on Fabregas, his 30th of the campaign in the league, leaving him two behind top scorer Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and his 50th in all competitions this season.

Juventus hit the woodwork three times and had a goal controversially disallowed as they were held 0-0 at Genoa on Sunday, their sixth draw in their last seven Serie A games.

They lost more ground on leaders AC Milan. Milan took full advantage with a 2-0 win at home to Lecce which put them four points clear. Antonio Nocerino and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in each half for the defending champions and Champions League quarter-finalists who have 57 points. Ibrahimovic's goal made him top scorer with 19 this season.