Atletico Madrid sweated out a 1-0 win over Villarreal without top scorer Diego Costa to stay top of the Spanish league on Saturday, while Lionel Messi scored two goals in Barcelona's 3-1 win over last-place Real Betis to stay one point behind. Messi converted a 14th-minute penalty and followed up a second spot kick that was blocked by goalkeeper Adan Garrido to seal the victory in the 86th. Earlier, Atletico's Raul Garcia also netted in the 14th and Diego Simeone's side did well to deny Villarreal in the second half as it stayed undefeated at its Vicente Calderon stadium through 17 league games this season. Real Madrid trails the pacesetters by six points before it visits Real Sociedad without injured forward Cristiano Ronaldo. (For moresports news and updates,followAhramOnline Sportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/98357.aspx