BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona let slip an early 2-0 lead before struggling past 10-man Real Betis 4-2 in the Spanish league on Sunday after Lionel Messi scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season. Three days before the Copa del Rey clash against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiolas team appeared set to cruise to another home victory after Xavi Hernandez and Messi gave the hosts a two-goal lead after just 12 minutes. But Ruben Castro scored the first goal by a visitor at Camp Nou stadium in the league this season, and strike partner Roque Santa Cruz made it 2-2 in the 52nd. Barcelona wasnt able to regain control until Mario Alvarez left Betis a man down with his second booking in the 70th. Having set up two goals, Alexis Sanchez then scored the winner before Messi added a late penalty. The Catalan giants ninth win in 10 home games still leaves it five points behind leader Madrid in the league standings. "Betis wanted the ball and played a good game," Xavi said. "Their game plan was fantastic. We saw an wide-open game with chances for both sides, but in the end we showed the mettle necessary to pull it out." Madrid hosts Barcelona on Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. The two legs will take the number of "clasico" matches to nine in nine months. Barcelona has been dominant, with Madrids one win coming in the Copa final last season. Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone won on his home debut as his new team beat Villarreal 3-0 thanks to Radamel Falcaos double. Falcao broke through for a dominant Atletico in the 40th minute, and then scored his 11th league goal from the penalty spot in the 51st after he was fouled in the area. Diego capped the win in the 80th. Also, it was: Osasuna 0, Racing Santander 2; Athletic Bilbao 3, Levante 0; and Sporting Gijon 2, Malaga 1. Madrid came from behind to beat Mallorca 2-1 on Saturday, while third-place Valencia fell 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad. Also on Saturday, it was: Zaragoza 1, Getafe 1; Sevilla 0, Espanyol 0; and Granada 1, Rayo Vallecano 2. Guardiola said he didnt think his teams shaky showing Sunday would influence the match at the Santiago Bernabeu. "The fact is that we figured out how to win and played a great last half hour," Guardiola said. "There are things that we have to improve, but it is a different competition and a different rival. We will look to rest and then go play the best game we can." Barcelona paraded Lionel Messis third Ballon DOr award and its recently won Club World Cup trophy with its fans before the game. Betis, however, was undeterred by their hosts impressive home record and went out looking to take the game to the European champions. Following Espanyols example from its 1-1 draw last weekend, Betis played an attacking game to try and beat the best attacking side in the world. The promoted sides dare soon cost it dearly with Xavi celebrating his 400th league appearance by scoring. The goal came from Cesc Fabregas rebound off the post after Alexis had played the former Arsenal captain into the area. The Chile international also set up Barcelonas second goal two minutes later when he lofted in a cross for the charging Messi to redirect into the back of the net. Yet whereas most of Barcelonas rivals would have rolled over, Betis continued to attack in waves while its pressure succeeded in short-circuiting Barcelonas passing game. The strategy paid off in the 32nd when Castro turned Salva Sevillas pass beyond goalkeeper Victor Valdes to halve Betis deficit. Before that goal, Barcelona had outscored its league opponents at home 41-0. Betis kept attacking after halftime, and Santa Cruz levelled with a precision shot from outside the area after catching Barcelona off-balance on the break. "Keeping in mind that nobody had scored here and that we had options to win when we were 11 against 11, well, we have to be proud," Betis coach Pepe Mel said after his team had lost for the first time in four matches. Barcelona finally reacted and claimed possession of the ball yet failed to break through Betis disciplined defence until it had an extra man following Marios exit. Alexis marked his strong overall performance with a hard blast from the right edge of the box in the 75th that goalkeeper Casto Espinosa got a touch on but couldnt keep out of his net. "(Alexis) allowed us to stretch the pitch, he is a very fast player," Guardiola said. "I have to congratulate him because he helped us a lot." Messi scored from the penalty spot in the 86th after Jose Dorado had been penalized for handling in the area. 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The Blues are 11-0-2 in its past 13 games at home and face an Edmonton club that was without its top three forwards and several key defensemen last time out.TSN.ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Rankings were weighted evenly between separate lists made by TSN Radio host and soccer analyst Gareth Wheeler as well as TSN.cas soccer editors. 1. Chelsea  (Last Week -1) Samuel Etoo fired home a hat-trick to help Chelsea keep pace with the other title contenders as they scored a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.  This triumph is the sixth victory in seven Barclays Premier League games for Chelsea. 2. Manchester City (LW-2) Manchester blew past the 100 goal mark for the season in a 4-2 victory over Cardiff City.  Edin Dzeko, Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero were all on target for City, who once again dominated on their home field. 3. Arsenal (LW-3) Santi Cazorla scored twice in five minutes in the second half to earn a 2-0 victory for top of the table Arsenal over Fulham.  The Gunners sprung to live in the second half after a quiet first, to collect all three points. 4. Tottenham (LW-6) Emmanuel Adebayor scored a goal in each half as Tottenham earned a 3-1 victory over Swansea.  Spurs are now level on points with fourth place but behind on goal differential. 5. Liverpool (LW-4) Steven Gerrards second half penalty rescued a point for Liverpool as they drew 2-2 with Aston Villa at Anfield.  Daniel Sturridge scored their other goal in first half injury time and Luis Suarez drew the foul that earned the crucial penalty. 6. Everton (LW-5) Kevin Mirallas first half goal was not able to stand up as Everton had to settle for a 1-1 draw with West Brom.  Everton slipped out of the European places and now sit sixth in the table. 7. Newcastle United (LW-8) Yohan Cabaye scored a brace and Loic Remy added the goal that turned out to be the winner as Newcastle bested West Ham 3-1.  8. Manchester United (LW-7) Substitute Javier Hernandez scored the only goal for Manchester United as they fell 3-1 to Chelsea.  The loss leaves the champions 14 points off the top of the table. 9. Southampton (LW-9) After goals from Jay Rodriguez and Dejan Lovren, Southampton were not able to hold on for the victory as they settled for a 2-2 draw with Sunderland.  The Saints controlled the play but were not aable to find the third goal to put the game away.dddddddddddd 10. Aston Villa (LW-13) Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke scored first half goals as Aston Villa earned a road point in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.  11. West Bromwich Albion (LW-12) Diego Lugano scored in the 75th minute to steal a point for West Brom from Everton in a 1-1 draw.  It was Luganos first Premier League goal and it helped his side avoid a loss. 12. Hull City (LW-10) Hull were hanging on in a game they were out played in, until a goal and a red card in the final three minutes doomed them to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Norwich.  Tom Huddlestone was the man sent off after fouling Leroy Fer. 13. Norwich City (LW-15) Defender Ryan Bennetts 87th minute header was the difference as Norwich bested Hull City 1-0.  This was Norwichs first victory at Carrow Road since November. 14. Swansea City (LW-11) Swansea continued their trend towards the bottom of the table as they fell 3-1 at the hands of Tottenham.  Wilfried Bonys 78th minute marker was their only goal and came after the game had already been decided. 15. Stoke City (LW-14) Stoke had a few chances but in the end were not able to get anything past Julian Speroni as they fell 1-0 at the hands of Crystal Palace. 16. Crystal Palace (LW-20) Tony Pulis led his new club against his former charges and Jason Puncheon scored the only goal as Crystal Palace beat Stoke City 1-0.  This was Palaces first league win since Boxing Day. 17. Sunderland (LW-18) Adam Johnson scored his fourth goal in a week to earn a point for Sunderland as they drew 2-2 with Southampton.  18. West Ham United (LW-16) A Newcastle own goal was the only offence West Ham would get as they slumped to a 3-1 loss.  Newcastle defender Michael Williamson did the deed two minutes into first half injury time but in the end had no effect on the final outcome. 19. Cardiff City (LW-17) Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell both found the net at Etihad Stadium but Cardiff became the 11th team to lose a road game to Manchester City, 4-2.  20. Fulham (LW-19) Fulham was able to control Arsenal during the opening half but Santi Cazorla goals in the 57th and 62nd minute condemned them to a 2-0 road loss. ' ' '