Lionel Messi has scored twice in the second half as Barcelona overcome an uninspiring first half by defeating Elche 3-0 in a La Liga match postponed from the first round of the campaign.

Jordi Alba also scored after the break to help Barcelona move back up to third place in the league standings, two points behind second-place Real Madrid and five adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand.

Barcelona were coming off two consecutive setbacks at home - a 4-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League and a 1-1 draw with Cadiz in the league.

Wednesday's match was postponed as Barcelona was among the clubs given extra time to rest after playing in the Champions League late into last season.

Messi reached 18 league goals with his double, moving two ahead of Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez - his former Barcelona teammate - at the top of the scoring list.

He opened the scoring at the Camp Nou Stadium in the 48th minute with a shot from inside the area after a give-and-go exchange of passes with Martin Braithwaite.

He then added to the lead in the 68th after picking up a pass from Frenkie de Jong and fending off a few defenders before finding the net.

Alba closed the scoring in the 73rd after being set up by Braithwaite and Messi.

It was a fourth loss in six matches for Elche, who dropped to second-to-last in the 20-team standings.

They had defeated Eibar in the previous round to end a 16-game winless streak in the league.

Barcelona's next two matches are against Sevilla - on Saturday in Seville in the league and next Wednesday at home as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of their Spanish Cup semi-final.

The second leg against PSG in the Champions League will be on March 10 in Paris.