<p>Barcelona go into the brief Spanish winter break on top of La Liga after a glittering show from Lionel Messi helped the defending champions beat Alaves 4-1.</p>.<p>Real Madrid, who drew 0-0 at Camp Nou in the midweek Clasico, can draw level top on 39 points but behind on goal difference if they win at home to Atletico Bilbao on Sunday.</p>.<p>Seville are assured third place over Christmas on 34 points after their 2-0 win at Real Mallorca.</p>.<p>France World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann put Barca ahead on Saturday with a lovely snap-shot from outside the area after a slick exchange with Messi on 14 minutes.</p>.<p>"I needed to score a goal before the holidays, now I can go into them happy with myself," said Griezmann who has scored just seven goals since his summer move.</p>.<p>"We have a great team with some of the best players around and when we don't click, well, there's always Messi."</p>.<p>Messi had already had a better strike ruled out by a harsh VAR decision, while Mohican-haired Chile forward Arturo Vidal had tried a dramatic overhead effort that the Alaves goalkeeper just about stopped with his feet.</p>.<p>Vidal bagged a second just before half-time when put into open space on the right as Barcelona overwhelmed the visitors, but they should have gone into the break more than 2-0 ahead.</p>.<p>Pere Pons pulled one back on 56 minute for Alaves with neither Gerard Pique nor the returning Samuel Umtiti on hand as his header flew home from close range.</p>.<p>Even with four defenders around him, Messi was unstoppable on 69 minutes as he unleashed a trademark left foot strike from outside the box.</p>.<p>- Golden goal -</p>.<p>The goal illustrated why the diminutive attacker recently won a sixth Ballon d'Or.</p>.<p>"It's an enormous advantage having Leo (Messi), he can score you a goal from anywhere at any time," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.</p>.<p>A sweetly-struck Luis Suarez penalty made it 4-1 on 75 minutes.</p>.<p>Messi goes into the break as La Liga's top marksman with 13 goals ahead of Real's Karim Benzema on 12.</p>.<p>Real coach Zinedine Zidane on Saturday promised to fight Barca all the way for la Liga title this season, as they prepare to host a motivated Athletic Bilbao Sunday.</p>.<p>"Bilbao are another rival and a different proposition. We will play them with all our energy, it's the last game of the year.</p>.<p>"The league is our priority and we will fight for it all the way," he said.</p>.<p>There was a Latin American flavour to Sevilla's 2-0 win at Mallorca earlier on Saturday as Brazilian defender Diego Carlos scored one and provided the other goal for the Argentine Ever Banega.</p>.<p>The victory ensured the Andalusians go into the break firmly in the Champions League qualifying spots.</p>.<p>As for Mallorca, who only have 15 points at the half-way stage, they are playing with fire just five points clear of rock-bottom Espanyol.</p>
<p>Barcelona go into the brief Spanish winter break on top of La Liga after a glittering show from Lionel Messi helped the defending champions beat Alaves 4-1.</p>.<p>Real Madrid, who drew 0-0 at Camp Nou in the midweek Clasico, can draw level top on 39 points but behind on goal difference if they win at home to Atletico Bilbao on Sunday.</p>.<p>Seville are assured third place over Christmas on 34 points after their 2-0 win at Real Mallorca.</p>.<p>France World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann put Barca ahead on Saturday with a lovely snap-shot from outside the area after a slick exchange with Messi on 14 minutes.</p>.<p>"I needed to score a goal before the holidays, now I can go into them happy with myself," said Griezmann who has scored just seven goals since his summer move.</p>.<p>"We have a great team with some of the best players around and when we don't click, well, there's always Messi."</p>.<p>Messi had already had a better strike ruled out by a harsh VAR decision, while Mohican-haired Chile forward Arturo Vidal had tried a dramatic overhead effort that the Alaves goalkeeper just about stopped with his feet.</p>.<p>Vidal bagged a second just before half-time when put into open space on the right as Barcelona overwhelmed the visitors, but they should have gone into the break more than 2-0 ahead.</p>.<p>Pere Pons pulled one back on 56 minute for Alaves with neither Gerard Pique nor the returning Samuel Umtiti on hand as his header flew home from close range.</p>.<p>Even with four defenders around him, Messi was unstoppable on 69 minutes as he unleashed a trademark left foot strike from outside the box.</p>.<p>- Golden goal -</p>.<p>The goal illustrated why the diminutive attacker recently won a sixth Ballon d'Or.</p>.<p>"It's an enormous advantage having Leo (Messi), he can score you a goal from anywhere at any time," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.</p>.<p>A sweetly-struck Luis Suarez penalty made it 4-1 on 75 minutes.</p>.<p>Messi goes into the break as La Liga's top marksman with 13 goals ahead of Real's Karim Benzema on 12.</p>.<p>Real coach Zinedine Zidane on Saturday promised to fight Barca all the way for la Liga title this season, as they prepare to host a motivated Athletic Bilbao Sunday.</p>.<p>"Bilbao are another rival and a different proposition. We will play them with all our energy, it's the last game of the year.</p>.<p>"The league is our priority and we will fight for it all the way," he said.</p>.<p>There was a Latin American flavour to Sevilla's 2-0 win at Mallorca earlier on Saturday as Brazilian defender Diego Carlos scored one and provided the other goal for the Argentine Ever Banega.</p>.<p>The victory ensured the Andalusians go into the break firmly in the Champions League qualifying spots.</p>.<p>As for Mallorca, who only have 15 points at the half-way stage, they are playing with fire just five points clear of rock-bottom Espanyol.</p>