Lionel Messi hit his 21st Barcelona hat-trick as his 10-man side edged a thrilling 5-4 victory at Deportivo La Coruna. Jordi Alba and Cristian Tello got the other goals for Barca yesterday, who had Javier Mascherano sent-off on 48 minutes, while a Pizzi double, a Alex Bergantinos strike and an Alba own goal kept the home side in the game. The win means Barca go three points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Messi now has 11 league goals, two more than Cristiano Ronaldo who earlier scored for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo that kept Madrid right points behind the Catalan side. Alba put Barca ahead on the north-west coast after only two minutes, bursting into the area to meet a Cesc Fabregas pass and finish well and, five minutes later, the lead was doubled.
Messi dinked the ball out wide for Tello who moved from right to left and then back to his right foot before hitting an unstoppable shot past Dani Aranzubia in the Deportivo goal. Barca's third 10 minutes later was the pick of the evening.
Mascherano played a forward pass from the halfway line that Fabregas controlled and back-heeled into the path of Messi who powerfully struck a left-footed shot into the top right hand corner. Goalkeeper Aranzubia came forward for a last-minute corner but it was not to be for a battling Deportivo and Barca took the points in a breathtaking match.
Earlier, Gonzalo Higuain and Ronaldo hit a goal apiece as Real Madrid eased past their unambitious opponents. Higuain put Madrid ahead in the 12th minute when he powered down the left wing and hit what looked like a cross that curled into the far corner.
Madrid had further chances but needed the help of the referee more than an hour later when he awarded what seemed a controversial penalty after Mesut Ozil went down under a challenge from Gustavo Cabral on 68 minutes. Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot to make it nine league goals for the season and give Madrid the points.
Valencia came from behind on two occasions to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2. heir former striker Aritz Aduriz twice put the visitors ahead, but a fighting performance, including a penalty from Roberto Soldado and a goal apiece from Tino Costa and Nelson Valdez in the last two minutes, gave the home side some respite from growing supporter displeasure after previously only winning two of their first seven games. Malaga rallied to beat Valladolid with a hard earned 2-1 home victory to stay in third position.
Messi now has 11 league goals, two more than Cristiano Ronaldo who earlier scored for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo that kept Madrid right points behind the Catalan side. Alba put Barca ahead on the north-west coast after only two minutes, bursting into the area to meet a Cesc Fabregas pass and finish well and, five minutes later, the lead was doubled.
Messi dinked the ball out wide for Tello who moved from right to left and then back to his right foot before hitting an unstoppable shot past Dani Aranzubia in the Deportivo goal. Barca's third 10 minutes later was the pick of the evening.
Mascherano played a forward pass from the halfway line that Fabregas controlled and back-heeled into the path of Messi who powerfully struck a left-footed shot into the top right hand corner. Goalkeeper Aranzubia came forward for a last-minute corner but it was not to be for a battling Deportivo and Barca took the points in a breathtaking match.
Earlier, Gonzalo Higuain and Ronaldo hit a goal apiece as Real Madrid eased past their unambitious opponents. Higuain put Madrid ahead in the 12th minute when he powered down the left wing and hit what looked like a cross that curled into the far corner.
Madrid had further chances but needed the help of the referee more than an hour later when he awarded what seemed a controversial penalty after Mesut Ozil went down under a challenge from Gustavo Cabral on 68 minutes. Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot to make it nine league goals for the season and give Madrid the points.
Valencia came from behind on two occasions to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2. heir former striker Aritz Aduriz twice put the visitors ahead, but a fighting performance, including a penalty from Roberto Soldado and a goal apiece from Tino Costa and Nelson Valdez in the last two minutes, gave the home side some respite from growing supporter displeasure after previously only winning two of their first seven games. Malaga rallied to beat Valladolid with a hard earned 2-1 home victory to stay in third position.