Tello keeps Barça in the title race

Youngster Cristian Tello produced a fine performance on his first league start for Barcelona as he helped his side to a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Both Tello and Messi were on target for Barcelona while Carlos Vela scored for Sociedad. The win ensures Barcelona remain seven points behind Madrid and still with a hope of reclaiming top spot.

Barcelona went into the game ten points behind as Madrid sneaked past Getafe earlier in the day with a 1-0 win. Pressure was high but Guardiola, with the midweek cup game in mind, kept faith in his youngsters and fielded a very inexperienced side.

Within nine minutes it was one of the B-team players that scored the game's first goal. Cristian Tello made a blistering run down the left flank and was duly picked out by Lionel Messi. The 20 year old did not need a controlling touch and calmly placed the ball past Bravo.

After the opening goal, the first half then proved to be very frustrating for Barcelona. The Catalans had plenty of chances but failed to kill the game off and heaped pressure on themselves.

On any other night Lionel Messi could have hit a hat-trick but the Argentine lacked his usual composure in front of goal. Free-scoring Cesc Fàbregas also missed good chances, in particular a one-on-one with the keeper that resulted in the Spaniard lifting the ball over the bar.

Real Sociedad remained a threat but the half time whistle came with Barcelona ahead. Guardiola was eager to seal the three points as early as possible but it was Sociedad who started the second half the strongest.

Greizmann brushed past Mascherano and Barcelona were saved by a great reaction save from Victor Valdés. The attacker seemed to lose his head and should've done better.

In the 63rd minute, Messi had his best chance of the game. A trademark run saw him trick his way past the Sociedad keeper, but produced an out-of-character shot and it was blocked.

Messi scores Barça's second

Cristian Tello, who looked impressive all night, was unlucky not to double his goal tally in the 69th minute. Dani Alves broke into the area and Cuenca saw his shot collide with the bar. The ball dropped kindly for Tello who blasted his shot towards the goal. It looked a certain goal but hit Dani Alves, who was attempting to get out of the way of the goal line. The right back was clearly offside and the goal was ruled out.

The three time Ballon d'Or winner finally had his goal in the 72nd minute. Arguably his hardest chance of the night, Messi sprinted clear of the defence and connected well with a chipped through ball from Alves. His left hook flew past Bravo and Barcelona looked to have killed the game off.

Real Sociedad didn't follow the script though. Thiago lost possession early from the restart and Greizmann found himself in a great position. The midfielder played a beautiful ball into the path of substitute Carlos Vela. The loanee from Arsenal calmly slotted the ball past Victor Valdés and set up a very nervy fifthteen minutes.

The Catalans held on though and can now switch their attention to the Copa del Rey as they look to seal their place in this year's final.

Full time result: Barcelona 2-1 Real Sociedad

Goal scorers: Barcelona: Tello (9) Messi (72) Real Sociedad: Vela (73)

Team lineup:
Víctor Valdés, Dani Alves, Mascherano, Puyol (Abidal 76), Adriano, Thiago, Jonathan dos Santos (Busquets 76, Piqué 83), Fábregas, Cuenca, Messi, Tello Subs: Xavi, Alexis, Pinto, Sergi Roberto
Formation: 4-3-3

Bravo, Carlos Martínez, Mikel González, Iñigo Martínez, Cadamuro, Bergara, Aranburu, Xabi Prieto (Agirretxe 84), Rubén Pardo (Joseba Llorente 78), Griezmann, Ifrán (Carlos Vela 58) Subs: Demidov, Estrada, Toño, Javi Ros
Formation: 4-2-3-1

Stadium: Camp Nou

Referee: Clos Gómez