Jordi Alba insists Barcelona needed Lionel Messi to earn their three points against Levante.

Messi scored the only goal of the game in the second half, beating Aitor Fernandez with the help of the post. It's just the Argentine's fifth league goal of the season, which isn't much compared to his lofty standards.

"Forwards go through spells," Jordi Alba told Movistar LaLiga after the game. "We know that, if we give him the ball, he can create danger. Leo won us the game today with his goal.

"I think we turned up and did a very good job. We need to get the most of our remaining points."

Barcelona are now nine points off Real Sociedad in top spot in LaLiga Santander and their left-back is hopeful of pushing up the table.

"If we do things well, we'll move higher up," Jordi Alba added. "We've dropped points that we shouldn't have done. This season, there are teams near the top that normally aren't there. That's important for LaLiga."