Hat-trick No 14 for Messi as Barça pressure Madrid

LIONEL MESSI scored his 14th Barcelona hat-trick as the champions cruised to a 4-1 win at Malaga yesterday, while La Liga leaders Real Madrid ended a miserable week with a morale-boosting 4-1 comeback win at home to 10-man Athletic Bilbao, which preserved their five-point advantage over their arch-rivals.

World Player of the Year Messi leaped to nod Adriano’s floated cross into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.

Any lingering Malaga hopes were snuffed out three minutes later when Messi slotted his second, a trademark run and finish that left the home defence in disarray.

The 24-year-old, who won a third successive World Player award this month, curled a free kick on to the underside of the crossbar 15 minutes from time before he again left his hapless markers trailing to complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.

Messi has now scored 216 goals for Barcelona, 19 short of club record of 235 set by Cesar.

Substitute Salomon Rondon, who replaced former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with half an hour remaining, scored a consolation for the home side five minutes from time.

“It was important to win today and I managed to get a few goals too so I am pleased all round,” Messi, clutching his “hat-trick” match ball, told Spanish television. “All the games are tough when you are away from home, but now we need to recuperate for what will definitely be a difficult match on Wednesday,” he added, in reference to Barça’s Cup game against Real.

With half the season played, Real have 49 points from 19 games with Barça on 45.

Valencia are nine behind in third after they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna and Levante are four points behind their city rivals in fourth after a 0-0 draw at bottom club Real Zaragoza.

Real fell behind as early as the 13th minute at the Bernabeu when towering Spain striker Fernando Llorente finished off a swift break with a superb volley before zippy fullback Marcelo cut through the visiting defence to equalise in the 25th.

The referee ruled that Kaka had been fouled in the penalty area by Ander Iturraspe two minutes into the second half and Cristiano Ronaldo smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Oscar de Marcos was sent off just over 20 minutes from time when he brought Mesut Ozil down in the area and league top-scorer Ronaldo added his second from the spot to take his tally for the season to 23, one ahead of Messi.

Bilbao’s brave challenge fizzled out as their players tired and substitute Jose Callejon added an 86th-minute fourth before Gonzalo Higuain struck a shot against the post. – Reuters