Lionel
Messi and Luis Suarez fired Barcelona to the top of La Liga by scoring
five of Barcelona’s six goals at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
Suarez
scored the first and last goals in the 6-1 win and Messi scored a
12-minute second-half hat-trick to take him level with Cristiano Ronaldo
for 30 league goals this season.
It was also a record breaking 24th La Liga hat-trick taking him one clear of the Portuguese and setting a new domestic record.
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick but his first came from the penalty spot against Rayo Vallecano at the Nou Camp
Messi celebrates after scoring during the La Liga match as Barca won 6-1 at the Nou Camp on Sunday
Messi goes round the goalkeeper to score en route to a 12-minute hat-trick at the Nou Camp for Barcelona
Messi looks on as his shot goes into the empty net as Barca hammered Rayo Vallecano at the Nou Camp
Messi is congratulated by partner Luis Suarez during the La Liga win that moved Barca top ahead of Real Madrid
Barcelona moved top of La Liga with a 6-1 win over Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Sunday lunchtime
Rayo
Vallecano are more used to lunchtime kick-offs than Barcelona but
Suarez had no problems with the early start as he put the home side
ahead after just six minutes.
He
received the ball from Xavi having sprung Rayo’s adventurous offside
trap and, with the outside of his right boot, spun a shot past the
advancing Cristian Alvarez. It was one of his best goals since joining
the club, and it was also his ninth since the turn of the year.
Barcelona
should then have wrapped up the three points in the next 20 minutes but
were wasteful in front of goal and unfortunate with a penalty decision
that went against them.
First
Suarez was sent racing away once again as Rayo persisted with a
suicidal high defensive line but his cross to Pedro was cut out by a
recovering defender.
The
former Liverpool striker then went through on Alvarez but was bundled
down from behind by Abdoulaye Ba only for the referee to wave play on.
Pedro was next to go close went put through by Messi but his effort was
saved by Alvarez who was helping to keep Rayo in the game.
He
was also spending a lot of time sweeping up outside his area. The
visiting manager Paco Jemez had said before the game that losing by
seven would be the same as losing by a single goal and his attacking
tactics were keeping him to his word.
Rayo
had their chances too. Trashorras in particular tested Claudio Bravo
from open play and from a free-kick after Javier Mascherano had fouled
on the edge of the area and been booked for his trouble.
Barcelona
could not extend their lead before the break but they came close just
before the half time whistle with what would have been one of the goals
of the season.
Suarez
lofted a pass over the top of Rayo’s defensive line to Messi and
flicked it first time over the goalkeeper but just wide of the target.
If
Jemez spent the break convincing his players they get back into the
game the belief was undone within five minutes of the restart. Xavi took
a corner, Jordi Alba headed it on to a post and when it came back down
in the six-yard box Pique forced it over the line.
Luis Suarez runs away in celebration after scoring Barcelona's opening goal at the Nou Camp
Suarez celebrates at the Nou Camp as Barcelona hammered Rayo Vallecano on Sunday lunchtime at the Nou Camp
Barcelona moved top of La Liga with their impressive win against 10-man Rayo Vallecano on Sunday
Suarez helped Barcelona en route to another three important points in La Liga as they leapfrogged Real Madrid at the top
Suarez and Messi celebrate together as they ran riot against a Rayo Vallecano side that had no answer
Barcelona moved top of La Liga with a 6-1 win over Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Sunday lunchtime
Rayo
were 3-0 down, and a man down, before the hour mark. Full-back Tito had
been booked in the first half and when he grappled Suarez to ground
inside the area the referee pointed to the spot and pulled out a second
yellow and then the red.
It
was Messi’s first spot-kick since having his penalty saved by Joe Hart
at the Etihad. He seemed to wait an age before steering it to the
keeper’s right and seeing it comfortably saved. There was a let-off to
come however with the referee deciding it needed to be taken again.
At
the second attempt he put it to the keeper’s left and this time the
ball nestled in the corner. The roof was coming down on Rayo now and
Messi soon made it 4-0 turning in a Suarez pass. Alvarez then saved the
Barcelona number ten’s free-kick to deny him a hat-trick. He wasn’t
denied for long however.
On
minute 63 substitute Rafinha sent the ball out to Alba and he crossed
for Messi to quick-step around the last defender and convert for his
third goal of the game, his 30th of the season and his 24th La Liga
hat-trick –no one has ever scored more.
Alves
was sent off for bringing down Alberto Bueno. He looked to get the ball
before the player but the referee pointed to the spot and the former
Real Madrid youngster scored the penalty.
There
was still time for Suarez to get his second of the game. He raced clear
of Rayo’s still stubbornly high line but played in Messi instead of
finishing himself and watched as the pass just run away from his
team-mate. Messi repaid the favour when he slipped Suarez through and
with seconds of normal time remaining he made it six.
Gerard Pique of Barcelona scores his team's second goal during the La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano
Pique managaed to double their lead as Barca went on to win 6-1 at the Nou Camp with an inspired performance
All three goalscorers celebrate as Pique (right) scores during the La Liga match that moved Barcelona top ahead of Real Madrid
Alberto Bueno scores the consolation for Rayo Vallecano as they left with a 6-1 defeat to show for their efforts
Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique (right) gives instructions to his players during the La Liga win
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