Lionel Messi: Barcelona forward's superb hat-trick sees off Real Betis
Lionel Messi gave Pau Lopez no chance with his 18th-minute free-kick
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick of the highest quality as Barcelona avenged their defeat by Real Betis earlier in the season to move 10 points clear at the top of La Liga.
His first was a 20-yard free-kick before he converted Luis Suarez's backheel pass with a toe-poked strike.
The pick of the bunch was a clipped finish that went in off the bar.
Suarez scored a fine individual effort while Loren Moron grabbed Betis' only goal with a superb finish.
- All the action as it happened
Of Messi's 33 hat-tricks in La Liga, this surely ranks as one of his finest.
After a cagey first 18 minutes, the 31-year-old broke the deadlock when his superb free-kick found keeper Pau Lopez's top-right corner.
Barca and Messi then punished their hosts, who beat them 4-3 at the Nou Camp in November, with a lightning-quick move. Suarez found his forward partner with a backheeled through-ball, that beat three Betis players, which was then turned in by the Argentine.
It was 3-0 after the break when Suarez, who missed two earlier chances, drove forward from 25 yards out before slotting past Lopez.
Substitute Loren pulled a goal back with a sidefoot strike past the reach of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, before Messi completed his hat-trick with a stunning effort that had the home support rise to their feet and applaud.
Barcelona now have 66 points from 28 games. They are 10 ahead of Atletico Madrid, with Real Madrid third with 54 points.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Real Betis
13López
23Mandi
5Bartra
12da Silva Júnior
14William CarvalhoSubstituted forMorónat 75'minutes
17Sánchez RodríguezSubstituted forLeite de Souza Juniorat 67'minutes
6Canales
18GuardadoBooked at 16mins
11Tello
21Lo CelsoSubstituted forLainezat 68'minutes
10Rodríguez Ruiz
Substitutes
1Robles
4Feddal
7León
16Morón
22Lainez
24Leite de Souza Junior
34Kaptoum
Barcelona
1ter Stegen
20Roberto
3Piqué
15LengletBooked at 52mins
18Alba
4RakiticSubstituted forAleñáat 88'minutes
5Busquets
8Ramos de Oliveira MeloSubstituted forNélson Semedoat 64'minutesBooked at 67mins
22Vidal
9SuárezSubstituted forCoutinhoat 90'minutes
10Messi
Substitutes
2Nélson Semedo
7Coutinho
13Cillessen
14Malcom
19Boateng
21Aleñá
23Umtiti
Referee:
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
Attendance:
54,172
Match Stats
Home TeamReal BetisAway TeamBarcelona
Possession
Home56%
Away44%
Shots
Home13
Away16
Shots on Target
Home3
Away9
Corners
Home3
Away7
Fouls
Home10
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Real Betis 1, Barcelona 4.
Full TimePosted at 90'+3'
Second Half ends, Real Betis 1, Barcelona 4.
Posted at 90'+3'
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
Posted at 90'+2'
Diego Lainez (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Arturo Vidal (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'
Substitution, Barcelona. Coutinho replaces Luis Suárez because of an injury.
Posted at 90'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 88'
Substitution, Barcelona. Carles Aleñá replaces Ivan Rakitic.
Posted at 88'
Delay in match Luis Suárez (Barcelona) because of an injury.
Goal!Posted at 85'
Goal! Real Betis 1, Barcelona 4. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic.
Posted at 84'
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Marc Bartra.
Posted at 83'
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Pau López.
Posted at 83'
Attempt saved. Arturo Vidal (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Goal!Posted at 82'
Goal! Real Betis 1, Barcelona 3. Loren Morón (Real Betis) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Diego Lainez.
Posted at 81'
Hand ball by Arturo Vidal (Barcelona).
Posted at 80'
Attempt blocked. Loren Morón (Real Betis) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergio Canales with a cross.
Posted at 79'
Emerson (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Clément Lenglet (Barcelona).
Posted at 77'
Diego Lainez (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 77'
Foul by Gerard Piqué (Barcelona).
Posted at 77'
Attempt missed. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi following a corner.
Posted at 76'
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Sidnei.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Real Betis. Loren Morón replaces William Carvalho.
Posted at 74'
Attempt saved. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Emerson (Real Betis).
Posted at 73'
Jordi Alba (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 70'
Emerson (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Arturo Vidal (Barcelona).
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Real Betis. Diego Lainez replaces Giovani Lo Celso.
SubstitutionPosted at 67'
Substitution, Real Betis. Emerson replaces Joaquín.
BookingPosted at 67'
Nélson Semedo (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 66'
Nélson Semedo (Barcelona) has gone down, but that's a dive.
SubstitutionPosted at 64'
Substitution, Barcelona. Nélson Semedo replaces Arthur.
Goal!Posted at 63'
Goal! Real Betis 0, Barcelona 3. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gerard Piqué.
Posted at 61'
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a fast break.
Posted at 61'
Attempt saved. Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joaquín with a headed pass.
Posted at 60'
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a through ball.
Posted at 59'
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Ivan Rakitic.
Posted at 55'
Offside, Real Betis. Giovani Lo Celso tries a through ball, but Sergio Canales is caught offside.
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goal
Source: bbc.com
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