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.
Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off being named world player of the year for the third time by scoring twice as Madrid struck three times in the final half-hour to beat Getafe 3-0.
Atletico Madrid, who dumped Real out the Copa del Rey midweek, moved back to within four points of their city rivals in third as goals from Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia handed them a 2-0 win over Granada.
“Messi has been at an extraordinarily high level all season,” said Barca boss Luis 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.”
Messi’s first effort was brilliantly saved by Fabricio after a well-worked corner, but the Deportivo goalkeeper was helpless when the four-time world player of the year opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a thunderous header from Ivan Rakitic’s cross.
The Argentine then chipped delicately over the prone Fabricio to double Barca’s advantage from Neymar’s pass.
However, by contrast, Luis Suarez’s troubles in front of goal continued as he fluffed twice in the first half with just Fabricio to beat.
Messi showed the Uruguayan how it should be done once more when he rounded off his 30th hat-trick for the club, cutting inside and firing into the far corner before an own-goal from Deportivo defender Sidnei completed off the scoring.
