Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona returned to the top of the La Liga table with a 4-0 win over Granada.
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The Argentina wizard grabbed his three strikes in 58 minutes after notching a brace in the opening moments of the match.
With Barcelona leading 2-0 at the break, Enrique preferred to keep the same XI and by the hour mark, Messi completed his hat-trick with lucky goal, tapping off a rebound from a brilliant solo Neymar effort.
Messi found the net from close range after a pass from Arda Turan, then bagged his second six minutes later by striking an open net after a pass by Suarez.
An ingenious dummy was involved once more, Turan letting the ball run through to Neymar down the left channel and the Brazilian’s resulting shot cannoned back off the near post to leave Messi with the formalities. We will see a newcomer, Neymar, competing with two of the biggest rivals in modern day football-Messi and Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Neymar were the Barcelona players included, while Real Madrid provided Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez.
Having spent the first half of this season as an enforced spectator, Turan is keen to repay the faith shown in him by Barca coach Luis Enrique.
It was Messi’s 33rd career hat trick.
Messi is the overwhelming favorite to be handed the honor for a record fifth time, after a year in which he scored 48 goals and contributed 23 assists to help Barcelona win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Rotation has been the key word of the new year for Barcelona as they look to preserve their squad heading into the business end of the season.
Puyol saw it all and did it all over the course of his fifteen seasons with Barcelona, but even so, he has little doubt over the fact that Messi is a once in a lifetime kind of player.
– Among those sides to play at least 20 league games away from home at Camp Nou, Granada are the only one yet to have won there (21 games).
“Barca are a wonderful team, they never stop coming at you from all directions”.
Suarez had Barcelona’s next outstanding chance in the 27th minute, but after combining with Neymar, the Uruguay worldwide somehow fired wide of the post from inside the box. Real Madrid are third with 37 points in 18 matches.
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Third goal: No question of offside.
