An injury-hit Barcelona stayed in touch of leaders Real Madrid with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Real Sociedad last night.

In the late kickoff at a chilly Nou Camp, 20-year-old Cristian Tello finished clinically from a ninth-minute Lionel Messi pass.

Messi made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute when he hooked in a Daniel Alves cross before Sociedad forward Carlos Vela pulled one back for the visitors two minutes later as Barca stayed within seven points of their Madrid rivals.