Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was pleased with his side's attacking intent after their 2-0 win at Racing Santander.

Lionel Messi scored twice to take his number of goals to 50 for the season for the Spanish champions.

"When you enter a match 13 points behind the [league] leaders [Real Madrid], you cannot wait and see what the opposing team will do," Guardiola told reporters.

"We did things well in a match in which it was very hard for us to circulate the ball. When they play with nine or 10 players behind the ball, it is never easy to enter the [penalty] area."

Barca are now 10 points behind Madrid in the Primera Division table.