Lionel Messi scored three goals in 13 minutes as Barcelona crushed Rayo Vallecano 6-1 to return to the top of La Liga.
The Argentina striker scored from a retaken penalty in the 56th minute of the match at Camp Nou, before tapping in after Luis Suarez’s shot had been parried by the Rayo goalkeeper. He added a third at the end of a characteristic solo run.
It was the quickest hat-trick of Messi’s career and his 32nd for Barcelona in all competitions. It also means that Messi has scored 40 or more goals in six consecutive seasons for Barcelona, and brings his total tally to 352 goals in 350 matches in the league.
Barcelona were already 2-0 up before Messi scored his first, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring in the fifth minute and Gerard Pique doubling the advantage early in the second half. Messi’s initial attempt from 12 yards was saved, but the referee ordered it to be retaken owing to encroachment from the Rayo defence, and he made no mistake after the reprieve.
Suarez added his second in stoppage time, by which point both teams had been reduced to ten men. Tito was sent off for Rayo after picking up two bookings, while Dani Alves was shown a red card late on for bringing down Alberto Bueno. Bueno scored the resultant penalty.
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Barcelona’s crushing victory came a day after Real Madrid were beaten 1-0 by Athletico Bilbao. Aritz Aduriz scored the only goal of the match at San Mames, with Gorka Iraizoz, the Bilbao goalkeeper, repelling the Madrid attack featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Isco and Gareth Bale.
Bale hit the post with a 40-yard effort, but Bilbao held on to inflict Madrid’s fifth defeat of the season. It left them with a two-point advantage over Barcelona in the table, and the Catalans duly seized the opportunity to return to the top with the dismantling of Rayo this afternoon.
Barcelona host Real in El Clásico on March 22.