Barcelona's coach Luis Enrique Martinez attends a news conference at Joan Gamper training camp, Sant Joan Despi, outside Barcelona, Spain on March 7, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Barca needed to come from behind to keep the pressure on Madrid as Eliaquim Mangala headed Valencia in front.

But the on-loan Manchester City defender was sent off for pulling down Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan had equalized, and Messi smashed home the resulting penalty.

Munir El Haddadi briefly knotted the score before half-time, but Messi and Gomes sealed the three points.

Madrid still has a game in hand over its title rival.

"We created a huge number of chances and deserved to win by a bigger margin," Enrique told Spanish TV station Movistar.

"Against an opponent with very good players, we've picked up three valuable points."

Messi spot on

Messi beat penalty specialist Diego Alves from the spot.

However, right from the opening whistle Barca was caught cold as Jose Gaya teed up El Haddadi to score against his parent club for the second time this season.

But the champion still had 45 minutes to make its man advantage count, and it did so despite missing a glut of chances after the break.

Messi drilled home at Alves' near post seven minutes into the second period for his 41st goal of the season.

Suarez somehow slotted wide with the goal gaping after Alves had denied Messi his hat-trick, while Neymar blasted a shot off the bar.

Agence France-Presse