Lionel Messi scored his 91st goal of 2012 to help Barcelona record a 3-1 win over Real Valladolid this afternoon.

The visitors had a chance to take a lead after just six minutes when Dani Alves drilled a low cross into the box from the right, but Alexis Sanchez just couldn't get enough on the ball to turn it in.

Messi came within a post's width of adding another goal to his ever-growing tally when he fired in a fine free kick from just outside the box only to see it come back off the woodwork.

Barca finally did break the deadlock just two minutes before the interval when Xavi met Jordi Alba's cross to fire home from close range.

The league leaders hit the woodwork again five minutes after the restart, this time Pedro heading Xavi's cross against the post.

Messi missed a chance to double his side's lead just before the hour mark when he dragged his shot wide of the post, but redeemed himself just seconds later by drilling an effort into the corner from the edge of the box.

Valladolid gave themselves a glimmer of hope by grabbing a goal back in the 89th minute when Javi Guerra collected a rebound to slot past Victor Valdes.

Barca quickly extinguished that hope, however, sealing the points four minutes into stoppage through Cristian Tello's close-range finish.