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Madrid, December 17
Lionel Messi continued his sublime form by netting his 31st La Liga hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Levante 5-0 to regain their three-point lead at the top of the table. The 31-year-old Argentinean arrived in Valencia having scored two free-kicks in last weekend’s derby thumping of Espanyol. He took his goals tally for the season to 20 after a virtuoso display, while also teeing up Luis Suarez’s 35th-minute opener and Gerard Pique’s late fifth.
Barca were under pressure after Atletico Madrid and second-placed Sevilla had both moved level on points with the Catalan giants. But after resting his key stars for their final Champions League group stage match against Tottenham in midweek, coach Ernesto Valverde saw his refreshed side cruise to a third straight league win without conceding a goal. The reigning Spanish champions broke the deadlock as Messi jinked through a mesmerised home defence and picked out Suarez, who volleyed home. The match was all but ended as a contest when Messi bore down on goal two minutes before half-time and drilled low into the net. He wasted little time after the restart to add his second in the 47th minute, sweeping home Jordi Alba’s clever cutback, before completing his treble with a simple tap-in from Arturo Vidal’s square pass on the hour mark.
5 in 2 games
Messi has scored five goals in two league games since finishing only fifth in the voting for the Ballon d’Or earlier this month. Centre-back Pique completed the tally in the 88th minute.
Sevilla reclaimed second place earlier on Sunday as second-half strikes from Ever Banega and Pablo Sarabia sealed a 2-0 win over Girona. They are unbeaten in seven league games since a 4-2 loss at Barcain October. — AFP