MADRID - Leo Messi was once again the hero of the weekend as he came off the bench to inspire FC Barcelona's late fightback that maintained their unbeaten record in the Liga Santander this season.

Messi began Barca's game away to Sevilla on the subs' bench due to a groin injury and it was not until around half an hour from the end that coach Ernesto Valverde decided to risk him.

By then Barca trailed 2-0 through goals from Fran Vazquez and Luis Muriel and in danger of being picked off on the break.

However, Messi provided a steadying influence to Barca and Luis Suarez pulled a goal back in the 88th minute.

It still looked as if that would be just a consolation for Barca, but a minute later Messi assured the points were shared with a spectacular left foot shot from outside of the area.

A first half Kevin Gameiro penalty was enough to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Deportivo maybe deserved more from the game, but failed to break down Atletico's defense in another typical display from Diego Simeone's side who move to within nine points of Barcelona.

Real Madrid remain third as two goals from Gareth Bale and a Karim Benzema penalty gave them a relatively routine win away to struggling Las Palmas.

Gareth Bale opened the scoring with a typical sprint and powerful finish, before Benzema's penalty following a foul on Lucas Vazquez allowed Madrid to double the lead before the break.

A Bale penalty early in the second half then assured the points for Madrid.

Valencia strengthened their already powerful grip on a place in next season's Champions League with a 1-0 win away to Leganes.

A goal from Spain international Rodrigo Moreno following a defensive error separated the two sides in a dull game where tactics generally got the better of attacking flare.

Valencia now have a 15 point lead over fifth placed Villarreal after Villarreal lost 1-0 away to bottom of the table Malaga, who claimed their first win of 2018 thanks to Chori Castro's solitary goal.

The first two games of the weekend ended in 1-1 draws between Girona and Levante and Athletic Club Bilbao and Celta Vigo.

Espanyol and Alaves produced a 0-0 draw to get Sunday started with a game containing few clear chances, while the Basque derby between Eibar and Real Sociedad also ended goalless in Imanol's first game in charge for the visitors after replacing Eusebio Sacristan as coach.

Alex Granell and Jose Luis Morales assured a share of the points in Girona, while Brice Mendez's 91st minute equalizer canceled out Unai Nunez's opener for Athletic Club.