ONCE again Cristiano and Lionel Messi lit up La Liga and proved their quality when it matters most with both scoring spectacular winning goals for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively on Sunday. ensured Real Madrid remain 10 points in front of defending champions Barcelona with a outrageous back heel to secure a 1- 0 win at Rayo Vallecano. Nine minutes after the interval, Rayo's defence failed to clear a corner at the first attempt. Portuguese superstar , facing away from the goal, backheeled the ball so powerfully from 15 yards out that it evaded four Rayo defenders on its way into the left hand corner of the net. "I didn't even think when I scored. I just hit the ball with my heel and therefore surprised the defenders and the goalkeeper," said . "A backheel is always different. It was a great goal but I'm not sure if it was the best of my career -- I have to see it again on TV," added. "The most important thing is the victory and the points." Later that evening, just as it looked like Pep Guardiola's side would have to settle for a draw at Atletico Madrid, Lionel Messi produced a marvel free kick to ensure victory. As Atletico's defence lined up to defend a free kick wide on the left, Messi noticed Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois out of position, lining up his defensive wall, and curled a stunning strike over the Belgian's head into the far top corner. The goal gave Barca only their fifth win in 12 games on the road, a poor run of away form that has effectively scuppered their bid for a fourth straight title and put Real within touching distance of a first La Liga title since 2008. "We know that it's very difficult, that it's a lot of points, but we are going to keep fighting at every away game and in every match," Guardiola told a news conference. "At difficult moments, Messi's capacity for leadership always shows. He's been doing it now for four years," he added. With 24 of 38 matches played, Jose Mourinho's Real have 64 points, with Guardiola's Barca on 54 in second and third-placed Valencia have 14 points. It was the 28th league goal of the campaign for Messi, who succeeded as World Player of the Year and has won the award three times on the trot, leaving him one behind the former Manchester United forward at the top of the La Liga scoring chart. Without and Messi, Real Madrid and Barcelona would respectively have nine points less this season. 's goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKrnxgRKxhs Messi's goal: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YpDA5OKF1XA
