La Liga wrap: Messi equals record as Barca win

Lionel Messi broke Barcelona’s scoring record with a hat-trick in the club’s 5-3 La Liga win over Granada on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Argentine entered the match with 231 goals for Barcelona, one short of the club record set by Cesar Rodriguez from 1942-1955.

Messi started his night by setting up a goal, rather than scoring one, as he laid on the assist for Xavi’s opener after just four minutes.

Messi then equalled the record with his 17th minute effort before a spirited Granada side gave Barca a scare at the Nou Camp.

Firstly, Mainz pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second half before Dani Alves conceded a penalty after fouling Carlos Martins.

And the spot-kick was dispatched by Mexican defender Guilherme Siqueira to level proceedings just after the hour-mark.

The man of the moment was not about to be denied though and he broke the club’s scoring record when he bagged his second goal on 67 minutes.

Tello made it 4-2 with eight minutes left and Messi rounded out the evening with his third moments later.

There was still time for Siqueira to score a second penalty of the night after Alves was sent off for handling in the area, but Barca were impressive in victory as they reduced the margin on table-toppers Real Madrid to just five points.

Messi has now scored an incredible 54 goals in 45 matches for Barcelona this season.

In the other La Liga match on Tuesday, Osasuna and Getafe played out a goalless draw.

A win would have lifted Osasuna to fourth but they were forced to settle for a point in front of their home fans.