Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga for the first time since early
November as Lionel Messi struck his 32nd hat-trick for the club in a 6-1
thrashing of 10-man Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday handed Barca
the chance to overtake the European champions and Luis Suarez wasted no
time in taking advantage as he slotted home his sixth goal in as many
games.
Gerard Pique doubled the hosts' advantage just after half-time before
Messi added a third from the penalty spot at the second attempt thanks
to a reprieve from the referee after his initial effort was saved by
Cristian Alvarez and Tito had been sent-off for a second bookable
offence.
There was no controversy over the Argentine's final two goals,
though, as he moved level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 30 league goals for
the season.
Both sides ended with 10 men when Dani Alves was shown a straight red
card for bringing down Alberto Bueno inside the area and Bueno
converted from the spot.
However, Barca had the final word when Suarez slammed home his second of the afternoon from Messi's through ball.
Suarez has found his scoring touch in recent weeks after a slow start
to life at the Camp Nou and was razor sharp in front of goal just six
minutes in as he rolled his defender before flicking the ball past
Alvarez with the outside of his right foot.
Rayo competed well during the first 45 minutes, but were nearly
undone by a moment of genius when Messi lobbed Suarez's lofted pass over
the onrushing Alvarez only to hit the side-netting.
Luis Enrique's men didn't have to wait long to make the game safe
after the break, though, as Jordi Alba's header from Xavi's corner came
back off the post and Pique was on hand to force the ball over the line.
Rayo's task became impossible seven minutes later when Suarez was
pulled down by Tito inside the area and the defender was shown a second
yellow card.
Messi's yips from the penalty spot continued as, after missing five
of his last 10 for club and country, Alvarez comfortably saved his first
effort.
However, referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled there had been encroachment
by Rayo players and gave Messi a second opportunity which he didn't pass
up.
The four-time World Player of the Year was in the right place to slot
home his second moments later after Alvarez had made a fine save to
deny Suarez.
And Messi completed a 12-minute hat-trick with a lovely feint to
leave Alvarez on the floor before rolling the ball into an empty net.
The action continued in the final quarter as Manzano levelled up the
numbers by sending off Alves for a foul on Bueno inside the box nine
minutes from time.
The former Real Madrid midfielder picked himself up to convert the
penalty and extend his advantage as the top-scoring Spaniard in the
league.
However, it was Suarez who rounded off the scoring in style in
stoppage time when he latched on to Messi's neat pass to round Alvarez
and turn the ball home from a narrow angle.
In yesterday's late game, Real Madrid's poor form in 2015 continued
as they were beaten 1-0 by Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Saturday.
Aritz Aduriz scored the only goal of the game midway through the first-half with a thumping header from Mikel Rico's cross.
The visitors improved after the break, but couldn't find a way past
Gorka Iraizoz as Athletic recorded their first victory over the European
champions in five years.
Madrid's third defeat in 11 league games means that Barcelona can
move one point clear at the top of the table with victory over Rayo
Vallecano on Sunday.
RESULTS
Deportivo la Coruna 3 (Riera 28, 72, Perez 90+3-pen)
Sevilla 4 (Vitolo 33, 52, Gameiro 65-pen, Sidnei 83-og)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aduriz 26) Real Madrid 0
Elche 1 (Rodriguez 6) Almeria 0
Granada 1 (Camacho 57-og) Malaga 0
Barcelona 6 (Suarez 6, 90+1, Pique 49, Messi 56-pen, 63, 68) Rayo Vallecano 1 (Bueno 81-pen)
Deportivo la Coruna 3 (Riera 28, 72, Perez 90+3-pen)
Sevilla 4 (Vitolo 33, 52, Gameiro 65-pen, Sidnei 83-og)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aduriz 26) Real Madrid 0
Elche 1 (Rodriguez 6) Almeria 0
Granada 1 (Camacho 57-og) Malaga 0
Barcelona 6 (Suarez 6, 90+1, Pique 49, Messi 56-pen, 63, 68) Rayo Vallecano 1 (Bueno 81-pen)