Messi scores hat-trick, Barca regains top spot in Liga

Hosting underdog Granada in round 19 of Liga, the Catalan team did not miss the opportunity to win all three points with a 4-0 victory.

Goals: Messi 8', 14', 58', Neymar 83'

Against the opponent ranked fourth from bottom, Barca easily found a way to the goal. In the first 14 minutes, Messi scored two goals, before completing his hat-trick in the 58th minute. At the end of the match, M10 also shined with a smart pass to Neymar to close out the big win.

This is Barca's 13th win in 18 appearances in the 2015-2016 Liga. With this result, coach Luis Enrique's team regained the top spot in Liga with 42 points. Atletico currently has one point less. In the late match, the Madrid team can regain what they lost if they win against Celta Vigo, but in terms of the number of matches, Barca still has the advantage because they have not played a make-up match with Sporting Gijon.

Messi (right) was in top form in the first matches of the new year. Photo: Reuters

Granada impressed in their win over Sevilla last weekend, but defending at the Nou Camp may still be too much work. The visitors even conceded a goal in the eighth minute after a low shot from Messi. Suarez was largely credited with the pass, with Arda Turan providing the decisive pass.

Suarez did not score any goals in this match but can be proud of his excellent assist record for his two teammates. In the 14th minute, the striker wearing the number 9 shirt shined once again when he passed the ball like a set piece for Messi to finish into an empty net to double the gap.

Messi's shot was so fast that goalkeeper Fernandez couldn't react in time to open the score.

In a one-sided game, Granada players could do little more than defend. Barca had a series of chances in the first half and only luck prevented the visitors from conceding a third goal before the break. The most surprising situation was when Suarez dribbled past goalkeeper Fernandez and shot wide.

Granada only had one situation that caused trouble for Barca's goal when David Lomban's free kick hit a body and changed direction. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo chose the right position to dive to block.

This is the second consecutive match, after the victory over Espanyol in the King's Cup in the middle of the week, that coach Luis Enrique used two new players Turan and Aleix Vidal. Both players played solidly, especially Turan in the role of midfield leader replacing Iniesta. Besides the decisive pass for Messi to open the score, the Turkish midfielder also had an assist for Neymar to run up and shoot against the post in the 58th minute. From this situation, Messi rushed in to finish the hat-trick.

With a three-goal lead just over half way through the match, coach Enrique did not hesitate to bring in substitutes. Vidal and Turan both left the field midway through the second half, making way for Dani Alves and Adriano. These changes did not weaken Barca, but on the contrary helped rotate players to preserve their fitness.

Turan (middle) quickly integrated into Barca's playing style.

The deserved victory for Barca ended in the 83rd minute. The MSN trio continued to shine when Suarez passed the ball across, while Messi deliberately let the ball go (while in an offside position), creating conditions for Neymar to rush in and finish skillfully past the goalkeeper.

With the heavy defeat at the Nou Camp, Granada continues to rank fourth from bottom. This team could fall to second from bottom if Rayo Vallecano and Sporting Gijon both win in the late matches of round 19.

According to VNE