MADRID: Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona made history on Saturday by winning a record 16th successive Spanish League match to beat the previous best of Alfredo Di Stefano’s 1960-1961 Real Madrid.
Messi scored all the goals in the 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou as the defending champions opened up a 10-point lead over Real Madrid who face Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Argentine magician Messi waltzed through the Atletico defence to give Barcelona the lead in the 17th minute and, after wasting a further chance, he pounced again in the 28th minute.
Atletico came out of their shell at the start of the second half but it was Barcelona who had the cutting edge with Messi scoring again from close range 11 minutes from time.
“We wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for Leo in our team,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola of his Argentine superstar.
“Without him we wouldn’t have won so comfortably. You always need to have players who can do something different.
“Real Madrid won 15 because they had Di Stefano.
“We have now won 16 because we have Messi.”
Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores was full of praise for Messi.
“He is the best player I have seen – the Di Stefano of the 21st century.”
Earlier on Saturday, a fine Valmiro Valdo finish gave Levante a shock 1-0 win in their derby clash with Champions League-chasing Villarreal. Struggling Levante were given little hope going into the game against third-placed Villarreal, who had not been beaten at home since May last year and had only drawn one game this season against Valencia.
Levante got the only goal of the game two minutes into the second half with Valdo rounding the keeper and then sliding the ball home with aplomb.
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