Messi scores hat-trick, Barca four points ahead of Real

M10 scored all three goals in Barca's 5-0 win over Espanyol in round four of La Liga.

Goals: Messi 26', 35', 67', Pique 87', Luis Suarez 90'

Without the help of expensive new signing Ousmane Dembele, Barca had a successful Catalonia derby. The Nou Camp team quickly created an overwhelming position and continuously scored goals against goalkeeper Pau Lopez.

Like many previous matches, Messi was the one to open the victory. The star wearing the number 10 shirt broke the tie with a skillful dribble and an accurate curling shot through the Espanyol defense in the 26th minute.

Messi has five goals in just the first three rounds of La Liga. Photo: Reuters

Barca fans did not have to wait long to see the fate of the match decided in the first half. Messi continued to be the home team's scorer when he accurately tapped the ball with his right foot after a cross from Jordi Alba in the 35th minute.

Also from another cross from Alba, M10 shot accurately in the 67th minute. This was the goal that raised the score to 3-0, also completing the hat-trick for the Argentine player.

Espanyol were not too far behind Barca but lacked the sharpness needed to score. The visitors only had one shot on target (which hit the post and bounced out) in six attempts.

Espanyol's defense also played as poorly as their offense. With the return of Luis Suarez for Barca, coach Quique Flores' defense had to stretch out and there were many situations where they could not keep up with the other two strikers: Messi and Deulofeu. As a result, Messi had free time and quickly scored three goals.

Espanyol's defense couldn't stop Messi's technical move in the opening goal.

Barca's new signing Dembele only entered the field in the 68th minute to replace Deulofeu. The 20-year-old striker had a few skillful dribbles before leaving his mark with a pass to Luis Suarez. From Dembele's well-placed cross, the Uruguayan star tapped the ball in to seal a 5-0 victory for Barca.

Before the combination of Dembele and Suarez, the home team scored the fourth goal from a corner kick. Center back Gerard Pique jumped up to head the ball accurately to score.

Thanks to the overwhelming victory, Barca has risen to the top of La Liga. The Nou Camp team now has nine absolute points after three rounds, two points more than the second-placed team Sevilla.

A win over Deportivo in the late game would see Sociedad move level on points with Barca. The Basque side have a goal difference of +4, while Barca have a goal difference of +9.

The Catalan giants are also four points ahead of defending champions Real Madrid. Having been held to a 1-1 draw by Levante, the Bernabeu side have only five points from their first three games.

Suarez returns to "share the fire" with Messi on the attack line.

According to VNE