article_snippet: (CNN)Lionel Messi has set the stage for a potentially season-defining week for Barcelona, scoring both goals as CNN)Lionel Messi team went four points clear at the top of Champions League on Saturday.
article_snippet: Messi has now scored 43 goals this season, first netting a 31st-minute penalty after Borja Ekiza unluckily handled the Argentine's blocked shot and then bulleting in a header from Ivan Rakitic's corner 10 minutes after the restart.
article_snippet: Spanish substitute Alvaro Morata ended Palermo's six-month unbeaten home run with a curling winner to maintain the Turin team's momentum ahead of Wednesday's trip to Borussia Dortmund.
article_snippet: Thomas Muller, who netted twice in the 7-0 routing of the Ukrainian side, opened the scoring while David Alaba bagged the second goal.