La Liga: Messi nets hat-trick as Barcelona go four points clear of Real Madrid

Lionel Messi’s hat-trick helped Barcelona to their third consecutive victory in La Liga, as they defeated Espanyol 5-0 in the Catalan Derby at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Messi opened scoring in the 26th minute amid suspicion of offside and doubled the lead 10 minutes before the break.

By the hour mark, the Argentine captain had made it 3-0.

Gerard Pique’s header made it 4-0 with three minutes left before Ousmane Dembele, on as a late substitute, laid a fifth on a plate for Suarez in stoppage time.

Barca remain top of the table with nine points.

Their title rivals Real Madrid and Atletico dropped points with draws earlier in the day. Both Madrid teams have five points.

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