Lionel Messi scored twice, as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 6-1 on Sunday, holding the pressure on Atletico Madrid, who beat Alaves. Thanks to a late penalty save from Jan Oblak.

With 10 games remaining, Oblak's 86th-minute heroics denied Joselu and ensured Luis Suarez's header was enough for a 1-0 win at the Wanda Metropolitano, keeping the difference at the top of La Liga at four points.

The difference between Atletico's victory over 19th-placed Alaves and Barca's, thrashing of a Real Sociedad side hoping to qualify for Europe said a lot about where the Spanish title race is headed.

After a difficult few weeks, Atletico will be hoping that Oblak's save will prove to be a turning point. “There are games where you suffer,” Oblak said, “but that is what makes football beautiful.”

Barcelona has found their stride, and their six goals against Real Sociedad were no less than they deserved for a scintillating attacking display. It was probably their best since Ronald Koeman took over.

Messi has now scored 11 and 12 goals in his last ten games, giving him a total of 16 in 12 games this season. It's a far cry from his rocky start to the season when the 33-year-old seemed to be burdened by speculation about his future.

Messi's form is the biggest threat to Atletico's top-flight status. But he wasn't alone at the Reale Arena, where Sergino Dest scored twice, either side of halftime after Antoine Griezmann had opened the scoring. Between Messi's double in the second half and Real Sociedad's Ander Barrenetxea's probably the best goal of the night, both Ousmane Dembele and Ander Barrenetxea scored.

It's Barcelona's ninth straight league away victory, with a club record 10th on the horizon if they defeat Real Madrid in the Clasico on April 10. Real Sociedad must try to get back on track before facing Athletic Bilbao in the rescheduled Copa del Rey final on April 3rd.

When Messi set Jordi Alba free down the left, Dest had already hit the crossbar. Although Dembele's finish was saved, Griezmann was on hand to hammer home the rebound. Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to make up for his bad clearance by diving low to deny Alexander Isak, but Real Sociedad's resistance was only temporary.

Messi slipped in Dest to fire in a third goal, and Alba pulled back from the other side to allow the American to score. Early in the second half, Messi snuck in behind, poking Sergio Busquets' ball over the top before Dembele was able to saunter through unchallenged and drove into the far side.

Barrenetxea got his team on the board with a brilliant nip inside Frenkie de Jong and thundering a shot into the top corner. But Messi had the final say with a crisp finish curling inside the near post.

Despite Suarez's excellent finish, nine minutes into the second half against Alaves, Messi continues to top the La Liga scoring charts.

Thomas Lemar passed the ball around the corner to Marcos Llorente, who fed Kieran Trippier, who was sprinting down the right flank and curved a cross in at the near post for Suarez to head in.

Alaves still had a chance without a second goal. They were offered a golden opportunity when Stefan Savic was adjudged to have put a hand across Luis Rioja inside of the penalty area.

Joselu stepped up and struck it well to his left. Oblak read it correctly and sprang out and moved the ball away with his left foot and pinned to the line.