Reuters
Barcelona, Feb 16: Barcelona marksman Lionel Messi marked his 300th La Liga appearance with a record-equalling hat-trick Sunday as Barca stayed hard on the heels of leaders Real Madrid with a 5-0 romp at home to Levante Sunday. However, defending champions, Atletico Madrid fell behind in the title race after goals from Nolito and Fabian Orella handed them a 0-2 defeat to Celta Vigo. This result left them seven points adrift of Real.
Messi has been in superb form in recent weeks and his pinpoint cross set up Neymar to put Barca 1-0 ahead in the 17th minute at the Nou Camp. Barca doubled their lead seven minutes before half time when centre-back Marc Bartra won the ball near the Levante penalty area and threaded a pass to Messi, who scored through a low right footer.
Messi made it 3-0 in the 59th minute after neat work from Sergio Busquets and Pedro. He then completed his 23rd La Liga hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 65th minute and equalled Ronaldo’s feat of highest La liga trebles, which the Portugese had achieved few months back.
The highest La Liga scorer now has the joint-highest treble record of 31 in all competitions with Athletic Bilbao’s Telmo Zarra. Messi is also catching up with Ronaldo on the basis of goals in this La Liga season with 26 goals, two less than the Madrid star.
Luis Suarez came off the bench to crown a fine Barca performance with a cracking bicycle kick to make it 5-0 in the 73rd minute
It was Barca’s 11th consecutive victory in all competitions, matching their best run under former coach Pep Guardiola. Luis Enrique, Barca’s coach said, “I didn’t know we had matched that record but it doesn’t interest me. We will make our evaluations at the end of the season and if we win titles it will be great.”
