Substitute Luis Suarez inspired Barcelona to a first La Liga win in three matches as they came from behind to beat Almeria.
The former Liverpool striker created second-half goals for fellow substitute Neymar and Jordi Alba to move Barca temporarily top of the league.
Thievy Bifouma gave Almeria, without a home win all season, a surprise lead.
Lionel Messi, who needs two more goals to break the La Liga scoring record, hit the crossbar in both halves.
The victory moved Barcelona up from fourth to top, a point ahead of Real who play Rayo Vallecano on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi had previously scored 10 goals in nine league meetings with Almeria.
Suarez and Neymar had been surprisingly left on the bench following successive league defeats by Real Madrid and Celta Vigo but came to the visitors’ rescue to save them from a third successive league defeat for the first time since 2003.
Suarez, who returned from a four-month ban for biting against Real a fortnight ago, squared for Neymar to tap home with 17 minutes left before the Uruguayan played Alba through for the winner on 82.
He also struck a shot against the crossbar in an impressive 45-minute cameo.
Messi equalled Raul’s Champions League scoring record of 71 goals with two against Ajax in midweek, but was unable to break Telmo Zarra’s scoring record of 251 goals on a frustrating afternoon.
He has now failed to find the net in three league games as he remains one goal behind Zarra’s tally.
Lionel Messi has gone three games without scoring in La Liga, his worst such run since January
Almeria are yet to win at home in the league this season
Luis Suarez hit the bar for Barca in the second half
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Source: BBC Sport
Substitute Luis Suarez inspired Barcelona to a first La Liga win in three matches as they came from behind to beat Almeria.
The former Liverpool striker created second-half goals for fellow substitute Neymar and Jordi Alba to move Barca temporarily top of the league.
Thievy Bifouma gave Almeria, without a home win all season, a surprise lead.
Lionel Messi, who needs two more goals to break the La Liga scoring record, hit the crossbar in both halves.
The victory moved Barcelona up from fourth to top, a point ahead of Real who play Rayo Vallecano on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi had previously scored 10 goals in nine league meetings with Almeria.
Suarez and Neymar had been surprisingly left on the bench following successive league defeats by Real Madrid and Celta Vigo but came to the visitors’ rescue to save them from a third successive league defeat for the first time since 2003.
Suarez, who returned from a four-month ban for biting against Real a fortnight ago, squared for Neymar to tap home with 17 minutes left before the Uruguayan played Alba through for the winner on 82.
He also struck a shot against the crossbar in an impressive 45-minute cameo.
Messi equalled Raul’s Champions League scoring record of 71 goals with two against Ajax in midweek, but was unable to break Telmo Zarra’s scoring record of 251 goals on a frustrating afternoon.
He has now failed to find the net in three league games as he remains one goal behind Zarra’s tally.
Lionel Messi has gone three games without scoring in La Liga, his worst such run since January
Almeria are yet to win at home in the league this season
Luis Suarez hit the bar for Barca in the second half
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Source: BBC Sport