Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday evening to close the gap on league leaders Real Madrid.
Luis Enrique’s side dominated throughout and took the lead in the 10th minute when Ivan Rakitic played a long ball forward and Messi superbly guided the ball home with his head.
The Argentine got his second midway through the first half when, after Neymar found him with the pass, he beat a defender before delicately dinking the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, Fabricio Agosto.
Deportivo should have got back into the game immediately when Isaac Cuenca, playing against his former club, blazed wildly over the bar from 12 yards, when he should have at least hit the target.
Messi completed his treble in the 62nd minute when he worked a short corner with Rakitic and then advanced into the box and beautifully curled the ball home for his 22nd hat-trick in La Liga.
A comical own goal concluded the scoring when Alberto Lopo booted the ball at his own teammate Sidnei and it flew past Agosto as Barca closed the gap to Real Madrid at the top of the table to one point.