Magical Messi hat-trick sends Barcelona top

Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to take his season’s tally to 22 goals as Barcelona returned to the top of the Spanish Primera Liga with a 3-0 home victory over 10-man Valencia on Sunday.

Argentine Messi showed why he is regarded as the world’s best player with three terrific individual second-half goals earning him a standing ovation at the Camp Nou as Barca moved three points clear of Real Madrid.

Messi’s first after 56 minutes was the pick of the bunch combining speed, dribbling and trickery as the 22-year-old led three defenders a merry dance before slotting home.

With Valencia down to ten men after the dismissal of defender Hedwiges Maduro on 69 minutes Messi ran riot scoring an 81st minute left-footed curler and a deft chipped effort with his right foot a minute later.

Real, reeling from their last 16 Champions League exit to Lyon in midweek, can go back to the top on goal difference with a win at second from bottom Valladolid later on Sunday.

After a summer investment of over 250 million euros much more was expected but now all Real can do is win the league title and even that may not save the job of under-fire coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Barca are still in the Champions League and face VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League last 16 second leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday with the score at 1-1 from the first leg.

For third-placed Valencia this was a fifth defeat of the season and they lie a full 18 points behind leaders Barcelona.

Valencia were without top-scorer David Villa, with 17 goals to his name this season, through a shoulder injury so Argentine Chori Dominguez started in his place.

With five minutes gone Valencia almost went in front with Jordi Alba heading Luis Miguel’s cross just over.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, watching from the stands as he serves a touchline ban, breathed a sigh of relief.

The visitors were closing down the home side well but Messi began to cause havoc forcing a save from Cesar Sanchez after 34 minutes.

Messi then showed incredible control before accelerating past two defenders and releasing Pedro who dragged his shot wide.

Thierry Henry replaced the ineffective Bojan Krkic after the interval and gave Barca more punch although it was a moment of magic from Messi that opened the game up on 56 minutes.

Messi ran at pace, circling around Ever Banega, Bruno Saltor and Angel Dealbert with his speed and clever cut-backs before stroking home.

Valencia should have equalised in the 68th minute but Victor Valdes saved Barca, thwarting substitute Nikola Zigic in a one-on-one.

A minute later Valencia were reduced to ten men when Dutch defender Maduro collected a second yellow card for fouling Messi.

Messi had his revenge by bagging two more goals, meaning he is five ahead of Villa at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Villarreal closed to within six points of the top six enhancing their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League with a 2-0 home win over Xerez at El Madrigal on Saturday.

Villarreal had been Xerez’s first ever La Liga scalp when they lost 2-1 last October but there was no repeat on Sunday as goals from Joseba Llorente (32 min) and Damian Escudero (90) secured victory.