Barcelona's Lionel Messi now breaks Gerd Muller's goalscoring report with Real Betis brace.

Lionel Messi set an archive for goals scored in a season as unbeaten La Liga leaders Barcelona stayed six points away from chasing Atletico Madrid with some sort of nervy 2-1 win at Genuine Betis.

The Argentine World Player with the Year netted his 85th along with 86th goals of 2012 within an entertaining game at the Benito Villamarin in Seville to overhaul the last best of 85 set simply by German Gerd Mueller in 1972.

Messi's uses overshadowed those of Atletico striker Radamel Falcao, who earlier put bottom side Deportivo Coruna towards sword with a five-goal haul in the crushing 6-0 home wins.

The prolific Colombian who is known as 'the tiger' and coveted by most of Europe's richest clubs, took his tally for that season to 16 in 15 complements as Atletico restored a five-point advantage over city rivals Real This town.
Jose Mourinho's Real side was required to twice come from behind in order to scrape a 3-2 win on Real Valladolid on Saturday which in turn closed the gap to Atletico, who they beat 2-0 at the Bernabeu last weekend, to a couple of points overnight.

 Atletico who responded by romping to a 12th win in 15 outings this term against a promoted Depor side vulnerable to dropping straight back to the next division.

Barca have won all their games this very season apart coming from a 2-2 draw at home with Real in October and Messi's double wear them 43 points, with Atletico upon 37 and Real on 34.


Messi equalled Mueller's record when he found the ball in a central position from the 16th minute and left the actual Betis defence standing before delivering an angled shot (below) across goal in to the bottom right corner.
Andres Iniesta's clever high heel set Messi up to ranking again nine minutes later which has a sweeping strike from a similar position just into the penalty area that flew in to the same corner of the aim.

Ruben Castro pulled a goal back for that home side in the 39th minute setting the stage for a difficult second half for that visitors.

Messi came close to some sort of hat-trick just over five moments from time when he spun in the community and Betis goalkeeper Adrian switched his shot onto a submit before Jordi Alba struck the rebound from the top off the crossbar.

The defeat was tough so on Betis, who beat Real 1-0 at your home last month and gave Barca one of their toughest workouts so far shock as to which deserved at least a spot.