Lionel Messi hit a second successive La Liga hat-trick, and his eighth goal in a week, as the magical Argentine inspired Barcelona to a 4-2 win at Real Zaragoza last night.

Three to tango! Barcelona's Argentine ace Lionel Messi celebrates his second goal with teammates Maxwell Scherrer (left) and Sergio Busquets (right)

Messi has now scored 11 of Barcelona's last 14 goals, keeping the champions neck-and-neck with Real Madrid at the top of the table.

It was Messi's fifth career hat-trick for Barcelona and followed his triple in the 3-0 win over Valencia last weekend and double strike in the 4-0 mid-week win over Stuttgart which ensured a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barcelona needing a victory to stay level with Real Madrid, who beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Saturday, got off to the perfect start with Messi heading them in front after four minutes.

Barcelona had to wait until midway through the second half for a second goal when Messi went on a mazy run, beating two players before finishing clinically.

He added a third before substitute Adrian Colunga brought Zaragoza briefly back into the match with a brace.
Messi though was proving unstoppable and he forced a penalty which Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted in injury time.

Other La Liga results
Malaga u00a02-0u00a0u00a0 Villarreal
Mallorca u00a04-1u00a0u00a0u00a0 Atletico Madrid
Osasuna u00a01-3u00a0u00a0u00a0 R Santander
Valencia u00a02-0u00a0u00a0 Almeria