Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores their fifth goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Albert Gea
MADRID (Reuters) - Lionel Messi struck four goals as Barcelona romped to a 6-1 win over Eibar to extend their lead at the top of La Liga on Tuesday and maintain their 100 percent record.
The Argentine was at his brilliant best as he lethally picked off the demoralised Basques, opening the scoring with a penalty in the 21st minute after Nelson Semedo was brought down by Alex Galvez.
Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal from the penalty spot with Nelson Semedo REUTERS/Albert Gea
With Barca leading 3-1, Messi struck three more times to help the Catalans reach 15 points from five games, five clear of second-placed Sevilla, having played one match more.
Valencia moved up to third after romping to a 5-0 win over bottom side Malaga with Simone Zaza netting a hat-trick.
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde made several changes, resting striker Luis Suarez and left back Jordi Alba while picking Gerard Deulofeu in place of the injured Ousmane Dembele.
Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action REUTERS/Albert Gea
The French winger is out for nearly four months with a ruptured hamstring and Barca paid tribute to him with a t-shirt reading 'Courage Ousmane' worn by the players before the game.
After Messi broke the deadlock Paulinho headed home from a corner to score Barcelona's second before halftime.
It was the Brazil midfielder's second goal in the last two games, a feat matched by Denis Suarez who increased Barca's lead to 3-0 before Sergi Enrich pulled one back for mid-table Eibar.
Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their sixth goal with teammates REUTERS/Albert Gea
However, Messi then took over with a virtuoso performance, sealing his hat-trick with a perfectly placed strike from the edge of the area under Marko Dmitrovic.
Substitute Aleix Vidal teed Messi up for his fourth in the 87th minute as the Argentine's magic touch gave what had been a solid but unspectacular Barcelona performance some sparkle.
Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates with Paulinho and Denis Suarez after scoring their fifth goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Albert Gea
(Reporting by Rik Sharma; Editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)
Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores their fifth goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Denis Suarez celebrates scoring their third goal with Andres Iniesta REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Paulinho in action with Eibar’s Marko Dmitrovic REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Eibar’s Paulo Oliveira in action with Barcelona's Paulinho REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Gerard Deulofeu in action with Eibar’s Alex Galvez REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Paulinho celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona players pose for a team group photo wearing shirts in reference to Ousmane Dembele before the match REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona's Paulinho in action with Eibar’s Gonzalo Escalante REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets in action with Eibar’s Sergi Enrich REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Paulinho in action with Eibar’s Gonzalo Escalante REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Denis Suarez celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their sixth goal with Aleix Vidal REUTERS/Albert Gea
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