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Attendance: 71,072
Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 16
Dec 7, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Mallorca logo

5-2

Griezmann (7'), Messi (17', 41', 83'), Suarez (43')
FT(HT: 4-1)
Budimir (35', 64')

Barcelona back on top of La Liga as Messi scores 53rd career hat-trick

Lionel Messi scored his 35th La Liga hat-trick to overhaul the mark of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi scored the 53rd hat-trick of his astonishing career to help Barcelona crush Mallorca 5-2 at the Nou Camp to retain their place at the top of LaLiga.

Following Real Madrid's 2-0 victory over Espanyol earlier in the day to temporarily move top, the pressure was again on Barca to provide a response and they did so in emphatic fashion, with the mercurial Messi again at its heart.

Antoine Griezmann set the ball rolling after just six minutes and with almost route one football after Dani Rodriguez had missed a sitter from just six yards.

From the ensuing goal-kick, Marc-Andre ter Stegen launched the ball upfield for Griezmann to then embark on a stunning run from the halfway line before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Manolo Reina.

Griezmann then turned provider 10 minutes later, but the finish was all Messi, who had showed off his sixth Ballon d'Or to the fans before kick-off, as he curled beyond Reina from 25 yards.

Although Barca then threatened a third, it was Mallorca who gave themselves a lifeline in the 35th minute when Ante Budimir's shot took a slight deflection off Clement Lenglet beyond ter Stegen.

Barcelona, though, finished the first half with a flourish, with Messi again beating Reina from outside the area with another sublime curler six minutes later to restore the two-goal cushion.

Two minutes before the break, Barcelona made it 4-1 courtesy of an outrageous goal from Luis Suarez as, with his back to goal he somehow delivered a backheel chip over Reina from Frenkie de Jong's pass.

Mallorca at least came out fighting after the break, with Budimir heading home his and his side's second of the night in the 64th minute to cut the deficit to two.

But it was left to that man Messi to have the final say, smashing home a drive in the 83rd minute for his 35th La Liga hat-trick to move ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo's tally.

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Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Barcelona on December 1, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid34276174225287
2GironaGirona34235673423174
3Barcelona34227570432773
4Atletico MadridAtletico34214963392467
5Athletic Bilbao341710755332261
6Real Sociedad341412848351354
7Real BetisBetis34131384339452
8Valencia34138133739-247
9Villarreal34129135658-245
10Getafe341013114147-643
11AlavesAlaves34118153238-641
12Sevilla341011134546-141
13Osasuna34116173751-1439
14Las PalmasLas Palmas34107173043-1337
15Celta Vigo34810164052-1234
16Rayo Vallecano34713142743-1634
17Mallorca34614142740-1332
18CadizCadiz34414162349-2626
19Granada3449213664-2821
RAlmeria34211213367-3417


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