Madrid, Dec 6 – Barcelona remain five points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga after a late 3-1 win at Deportivo Coruna.

European Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi led the way with two goals, while in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the third here Saturday.

Their third win within a week leaves Barca five points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who beat Almeria 4-2 at home earlier Saturday.

Barca have 36 points from 14 games, Real have 31 from 13.

‘It was a difficult game because they were well organised and they know us very well,’ said Messi.

The Argentine will receive his Golden Ball award in Paris Sunday.

He shot Barca ahead with his trusty left foot in the 27th minute, after taking a short pass from Dabi Alves.

Twelve minutes later Deportivo scored a bizarre equaliser, completely against the run of play. Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets made a mess of a long ball, striker Adrian got in a header and keeper Victor Valdes let the ball slip out of his hands.

But Barca continued to dominate and were rewarded with an important late win. Ten minutes from time supersub Pedro centred for Messi to make it 2-1 with a deft header.

Eight minutes later Ibrahimovic settled the issue with a precise shot after Eric Abidal had centred precisely from the left.

Ibrahimovic is now level with Valencia’s David Villa with 10 goals, Messi is third in the charts with nine.

Earlier Saturday, Real had staged yet another of their late comebacks to beat luckless Almeria 4-2.

With 15 minutes left Real were losing 2-1 and on the brink of disaster. However, late goals from young forwards Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo turned the tables.

Ronaldo then blotted his copybook by getting mindlessly sent off and will miss next Sunday’s game away to fourth-placed Valencia.

The Portuguese winger said afterwards, ‘I am human and sometimes make mistakes.’ He added that he had apologised to his teammates.

Sergio Ramos had headed Real ahead in the 31st minute, in a centre from Ronaldo. Real were playing fairly well, for a change, but Almeria came out of their defensive shell in the second half and silenced the Estadio Bernabeu with two shock goals.

In the 59th minute, Fernando Soriano made it 1-1 by turning in a centre from Albert Crusat. Just four minutes later Kalu Uche gave Almeria the lead with a powerful drive.

Higuain made it 2-2 in the 75th minute after a centre from Marcelo. Eight minutes from time Real were given a non-existent penalty for a dive by Ronaldo in front of goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Alves saved Ronaldo’s penalty, only for Benzema to follow up and score. Ronaldo then made it 4-2 on a centre from man of the match Higuain.

Ronaldo, nervous through the match, then lashed out at Almeria defender Juanma Ortiz and was sent off.

Real now have 31 points from 13 games, two points less than Barca, who are away to fifth-placed Deportivo Coruna in Sunday’s late game.

Earlier Saturday Sevilla missed another good chance to move close to the top two, being held 1-1 at home by 10-man Valladolid. It was Sevilla’s second home draw within a week after being held 2-2 last Saturday by Malaga.

The latest draw leaves Sevilla in third place, four points behind Real.

Sevilla are two points ahead of Valencia, who are away to Athletic Bilbao Sunday, and Deportivo, who are tied on 25 points.

In Seville, Angolan forward Manucho headed Valladolid into the lead in the 34th minute on a centre from Diego Costa.

But five minutes later Valladolid midfielder Borja was sent off for a bad foul on Diego Perotti, and Sevilla were soon in command.

Just before half-time Sevilla were given a penalty for a foul by Marcos on Spain winger Jesus Navas, and Luis Fabiano made it 1-1 from the spot.

Sevilla were set to take the lead in the second half but with Perotti and Arouna Kone looking wasteful the Valladolid defence held firm throughout.

Saturday’s other early game saw Atletico Madrid move up to 11th with their first away win, 2-0 at bottom team Xerez, with goals from South Americans Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero.

Xerez are in economic and administrative chaos, with former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster trying to buy the Andalusian club.