Lionel Messi has helped Barcelona into a 1-0 half-time lead over Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou on the final day of the La Liga season, with the visitors potentially 45 minutes away from being relegated.

Only six minutes elapsed before the newly-crowned Liga champions moved ahead on their coronation.

Rafinha justified his inclusion in the first XI by clipping a wonderful cross for Messi to nod past Fabricio with a rare header.

The Catalans were celebrating again shortly after, but the Argentine's second was ruled out for offside in a setback that did little to dampen their spirit.

The relentless attacking continued and Deportivo have Fabricio to thank for keeping them in the game, as the Spaniard denied Messi and then Pedro from the rebound as the visitors survived without further damage.

It proved the last goalmouth action for a while as the visitors succeeded in stemming the tide of chances, but Victor Sanchez's men struggled at the other end.

With Eibar currently beating Cordoba 3-0, Deportivo, as it stands, sit 18th as their top-flight status hangs in the balance.