Messi drilled home to level at the Mestalla

The reigning champions went into the game with the chance to strengthen their position at the top of the table following Real Madrid's shock defeat to Alavés on Saturday, but were rocked by Ezequiel Garay's early goal.

However, they needn't have worried as their talisman ensured they weren't behind for too long.

Midway through the first half, the Argentine gathered the ball 30 yards out, before slipping a pass through the legs of Geoffrey Kondogbia and into the path of fellow forward Suarez.

Suarez returned the favour, teeing his fellow South American up to drill home low first time from just outside the box.

The strike was Messi's 11th in 11 games in all competitions this season and sixth in eight LaLiga outings, though he remains two behind Girona's Cristhian Stuani in the goalscoring charts.