Lionel Messi struck a stunning hat trick as Barcelona opened up a 10-point gap at the top of La Liga with a 4-1 away win over Real Betis on Sunday evening.
The Argentine was the star of the show, opening the scoring with a sensational free-kick from 20 yards out before adding a second on the stroke of half time, flicking home a finish after a clever back-heel assist from Luis Suarez.
Suarez spurned a number of opportunities, but added a third in magnificent fashion just after the hour mark, driving forward with the ball from 40 yards, skipping past the tackles of three defenders and sliding a low effort past Pau Lopez.
Of Messi’s 33 hat-tricks in La Liga, this surely ranks as one of his finest.
After a cagey first 18 minutes, the 31-year-old broke the deadlock when his superb free-kick found keeper Pau Lopez’s top-right corner.
Barca and Messi then punished their hosts, who beat them 4-3 at the Nou Camp in November, with a lightning-quick move. Suarez found his forward partner with a backheeled through-ball, that beat three Betis players, which was then turned in by the Argentine.
It was 3-0 after the break when Suarez, who missed two earlier chances, drove forward from 25 yards out before slotting past Lopez.
Substitute Loren pulled a goal back with a sidefoot strike past the reach of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, before Messi completed his hat-trick with a stunning effort that had the home support rise to their feet and applaud.
Barcelona now have 66 points from 28 games. They are 10 ahead of Atletico Madrid, with Real Madrid third with 54 points.
