Sports
Messi hat-trick puts Barcelona on top
Barcelona have cruised to the top of the Spanish Liga Saturday with a 4-0 caning of Granada, with Lionel Messi putting away his first hat-trick of the season.
The little Argentine – who is favourite to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or on Monday – has scored five goals in two matches, starting with Wednesday’s cup brace against Espanyol.
Messi opened the scoring against Granada in the eighth minute by turning in a centre from Arda Turan – who was making his league debut for Barca – then quickly made it 2-0 by finishing a move between Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute by turning in the rebound after Neymar had hit the post, then Neymar ended the rout by making it 4-0 seven minutes from the end.
Aleix Vidal made a promising league debut for Barca at right-back.
Meanwhile, the defeat in Barcelona left Granada fourth from bottom.
“We knew we were going to have a difficult time of it today,” Granada defender David Lomban said.
“Barca are a wonderful team, they never stop coming at you from all directions. You can never relax playing against them, there is always a new threat just around the corner.”
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