Spanish La Liga: Messi hat-trick keeps title race alive

Argentine scores his 22nd league hat-trick, one behind record-holder Ronaldo

MADRID: Lionel Messi struck a stunning hat-trick to ensure Barcelona maintained the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-0 win away to Deportivo la Coruna to cut the gap at the top to one point, albeit after playing a game more.

In a change from his much-criticised rotation policy, Barca boss Luis Enrique named the same side that beat Atletico 3-1 at home last weekend and was rewarded with another bright display, illuminated by Messi's class in front of goal.

"Messi has been at an extraordinarily high level all season," said Enrique, despite reports of a dressing room rift between the two in recent weeks. "He hasn't dipped at any point. He has been world class."

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off a week where he was named World Player of the Year for the third time by scoring a brace as Real struck thrice in the final half hour to beat Getafe 3-0.

Real had to wait over an hour to make the breakthrough at the Alfonso Perez Coliseum before Ronaldo fired home from Karim Benzema's wonderful assist to set them on the road to victory.

"It is true at the start we didn't play with a lot of intensity," said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. "At the start we played a bit slow, but I liked the performance because the team played with intelligence and much better in the second-half than the first.”

Atletico Madrid, who dumped Real out the Copa del Rey in midweek, moved back to within four points of their city rivals into third, as goals from Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia handed them a 2-0 win over managerless Granada.

 

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