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MADRID. – Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance in the Spanish La Liga with the opening goal in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over struggling Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday as the Catalans prepare to unveil Philippe Coutinho. Messi’s 365th goal in Spain’s top flight was followed by strikes from Luis Suarez and Paulinho as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table back to nine points over Atletico Madrid.

They are also now a massive 16 points clear of defending champions Real Madrid, who were held to a 2-2 draw away at Celta Vigo despite a brace from Gareth Bale and remain fourth. Messi has now equalled Gerd Muller’s record of 365 league goals for one club in Europe’s top five divisions.

Barcelona are still unbeaten in La Liga this season and yesterday they officially unveiled Coutinho following the Brazilian’s €160 million move from Liverpool. With all the talk about Coutinho, coach Ernesto Valverde was eager for his side to keep their focus on winning their first league outing since beating Real Madrid 3-0 in the Clasico on December 23.

“Levante had not lost away since September. We were very good in the first half, but the rhythm was not the same in the second half,” said Valverde. Barcelona’s previous record recruit Ousmane Dembele – a €105 million buy from Borussia Dortmund in the summer – was included in the line-up for the first time since tearing his hamstring nearly four months ago.

He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, including from one 20-yard strike that was beaten away by Levante goalkeeper Oier Olazabal.

“I think he has to bring something to the team and he also has to face up to the competition for places and for the tackles he will face on the pitch from opponents who don’t want to let him past,” said Valverde.

“It is a process, but I thought he looked good and we still hope he can improve.”

It was Messi who broke the deadlock with a fine first-time finish in off the post from a Jordi Alba assist for his 16th league goal of the campaign in the 12th minute.

The second goal arrived seven minutes before the interval, as Suarez controlled Sergi Roberto’s fine ball into the box before firing home.

It was the Uruguayan’s 400th professional goal, his 131st for Barca, putting him seventh on the club’s all-time list of leading scorers. Barca rounded out the victory in the third minute of added time as Messi’s low ball across goal at the end of a jinking run was turned in by Paulinho.

Madrid were without the injured Sergio Ramos and the suspended Dani Carvajal in Vigo and their makeshift defence was exposed when Daniel Wass put the hosts ahead in the 33rd minute.

The Dane was afforded acres of space although his chipped finish over Keylor Navas from the edge of the box was still a delight. With Karim Benzema injured, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo started together for the first time since late September.

And it was Bale who quickly turned the game around, slotting home from a fine weighted pass by Toni Kroos in the 36th minute and then beating the offside trap to prod in an Isco pass two minutes later.

However, Celta fought back after the break to claim a deserved point.

Iago Aspas saw a 72nd-minute penalty saved by Navas after he had been fouled by the Costa Rican goalkeeper, but Maxi Gomez rose unmarked to head in a Wass cross eight minutes from time.

Zinedine Zidane’s side do still have a game in hand on the sides above them, but they are now only one point further away from the relegation zone than they are from Barcelona.

Second-placed Atletico beat Getafe 2-0 on Saturday, with Diego Costa scoring and then being sent off in his first league appearance since returning to the club from Chelsea.

Valencia are 11 points behind Barcelona in third after coming from behind to beat Girona 2-1 at Mestalla on Saturday.

And Real Madrid players feel like their La Liga title hopes are “sinking” into a black hole after they let a 2-1 lead against Celta Vigo slip through their fingers in the final eight minutes, leaving them 16 points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

“It is how it looks from the outside – we are sad, angry and we feel like we are sinking,” Brazilian defender Marcelo told reporters.

“It is one of the worst situations I’ve experienced here,” added the 29-year-old who has been with the club for over a decade.

“We’ll try to work hard and fight so we can win our next game, but we don’t like this situation at all, it’s difficult because the more games you draw or lose the more pressure you are under.”

The last time Real were 16 points behind the Liga leaders was during Jose Mourinho’s tension-filled final campaign in 2012-13, when they finished 15 points adrift of Barca. – AFP.