FC Barcelona stand one victory away from securing the Liga title after twice fighting back from behind to see off Real Betis Balompié 4-2.

Dorlan Pabón gave Betis the perfect start when he found the net after two minutes, and although Alexis Sánchez restored parity soon afterwards, the visitors went ahead a second time through Rubén Pérez just before the break. David Villa mustered an equaliser on 56 minutes, and that was also the signal for Lionel Messi to come off the bench, the Argentinian forward grabbing a pair of goals to seal the outcome.

The win returned Barcelona 11 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid CF with four games remaining, and Tito Vilanova's charges can clinch the championship at Club Atlético de Madrid next Sunday.

Elsewhere, eighth-placed Sevilla FC celebrated a 3-0 success against RCD Espanyol, and that was also the margin of victory as Real Zaragoza swept aside Rayo Vallecano de Madrid to climb out of the bottom three, Apoño registering twice. The game between RCD Mallorca and Levante UD finished 1-1, finally.