Lionel Messi broke Telmo Zarra's all-time La Liga record of 251 goals by scoring three times in Barcelona's 5-1 win over Sevilla at Camp Nou tonight.
The Argentine equalled the record with a fine free kick in the first half that earned Barca a narrow, yet deserved lead at the break.
Unai Emery's side restored parity in fortuitous circumstances early in the second half, before Neymar and Ivan Rakitic gave the Catalans a 3-1 lead.
Messi then came to the fore, tapping home Neymar's pass to reach 252 goals in Spain's top flight, before sealing his hat-trick by drilling past Beto late on.
Below, Sports Mole takes a look at what proved a historic night in Catalonia.
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Match statistics
Barcelona
Shots: 16
On target: 10
Possession: 70%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 8
Sevilla
Shots: 2
On target: 0
Possession: 30%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 21
Was the result fair?
Undoubtedly. Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo did not have a shot to save, which ought to illustrate just how dominant the Catalan giants were throughout the course of the game. The final score might have been harsh on the visitors, given how well they defended in the first half, but the result cannot be debated.
Barcelona's performance
Barcelona absolutely dominated the first 45 minutes but, for all their possession, they created next to nothing in front of goal until the dying stages of the half. If not for a moment of magic from Messi then Sevilla would have been level at the break.
However, Luis Enrique's side well and truly put the Rojiblancos to the sword in a ruthless second-half showing that spawned four goals - including two for record-breaking Messi. They went into the game knowing that defeat would see them stay five points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, so Enrique will be delighted with the manner in which Barcelona kept pace in the title race.
Sevilla's performance
Despite trailing 1-0 at the break, Emery's side did very little wrong from a defensive point of view throughout the first half. They tracked the runners well, with Daniel Carrico, in particular, producing a number of crucial interventions to keep the score down. However, it was their lack of attacking threat that would have worried Emery during the break, with Sevilla failing to force Bravo into a single save.
They did, however, manage to equalise within 60 seconds of the restart through Jordi Alba's own goal, but parity lasted little more than a minute as Neymar headed the hosts ahead once more in arguably the decisive moment of the game. Had Emery's side stayed on level terms a little longer then anxiety levels inside the Camp Nou would have increased, and perhaps that panic may have spread to the players.
On paper it looks like a routine win for Enrique and company, and it was, but it could have been very different.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Lionel Messi: The Argentine is automatically man of the match for scoring three times, but the significiance of his hat-trick takes extra meaning tonight. Messi, 27, equalled and then broke Telmo Zarra's all-time goalscoring record in La Liga, moving level on 251 goals before adding two more to etch his name into the division's annals, as if it wasn't already.
There were several candidates, with Neymar and Luis Suarez also extremely impressive, but it was Messi's night this evening.
Biggest gaffe
Grzegorz Krychowiak was one of Sevilla's better players tonight, but it was an error from the big Pole that led to Messi's opening goal in the first half. The combative midfielder was the only player in a four-man wall that did not jump in the free kick that Messi scored from. Unfortunately for him, the ball sailed right over his head and, being 6'1, Krychowiak could have very easily prevented the goal had he not stayed on his heels. Really poor.
Referee performance
Martinez Munuera is one of the most inexperienced referees in the division - and he showed it tonight. The Spaniard could, and should, have booked a host of players in a fiery first-half display, but only brandished the yellow card on one occassion. He was far too lenient and inadvertently encouraged the type of physicality that marred a very decent opening 45 minutes.
Munuera also should have sent Coke off for a second yellow midway through the second half for obstructing Neymar's run, but decided against it. Really poor officiating from him overall.
What next?
Barcelona: Enrique's side jet to Cyprus in the coming days for a Champions League clash with APOEL on Tuesday.
Sevilla: The Rojiblancos also take to the continent in midweek for a Europa League encounter away to Feyenoord on Thursday night.
Shane Callaghan
