LA LIGA:FOUR GOALS in five days and only one a contender for goal of the week. Lionel Messi surely is letting his standards slip.

Messi’s strike to remember was his first of two at Real Zaragoza on Saturday, in Barcelona’s 4-1 win, when he left Paulo Da Silva standing, in surging past the home player before smashing a drive into the top left corner.

An awkward bobbling ball into the attacker, 25 yards from goal, might have made Da Silva, with his back to goal, favourite against any player than Messi.

But Messi found a way not only to bring it under control, but to weave first one way and then the other to clear a route to goal. A searing left-footed shot out of the reach of goalkeeper Roberto’s right hand followed. The spot-kick he added to that classy finish was his 60th goal this season.

Barcelona now trail Real Madrid by four points at the top of the table. Jose Mourinho’s side were held to a 0-0 draw by Valencia last night.