Messi treble saves Barcelona

Messi treble saves Barcelona

A Lionel Messi hat-trick helped FC Barcelona salvage a 3-3 draw against their arch-rivals Real Madrid FC and top spot in the Primera División, while Levante UD remain in danger of relegation after a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Villarreal CF.
Ruud awakeningIf both sides at Camp Nou were under pressure they certainly did not show it in a blistering first 30 minutes which saw Madrid twice take the lead only for Barcelona to equalise on each occasion. Ruud van Nistelrooy set the tone with the opening goal after four minutes - a composed curling shot from the edge of the box.
Barcelona responseBarcelona did not take long to reply though as Messi burst through to slide the equaliser past Iker Casillas six minutes later. But the Catalans were only on terms for two minutes, as Van Nistelrooy scored from the penalty spot after a foul on Guti. Not to be outdone, Messi grabbed his second on 27 minutes after Casillas pushed a shot into his path following a neat move involving Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.
Messi trebleThe game turned in Madrid's favour just before half-time when Oleguer Presas was sent off for two yellow card offences, and their dominance after the interval told when Sergio Ramos headed in with 18 minutes remaining. But Barça provided one final push and were rewarded in added time when Messi drilled a shot past Casillas to complete his hat-trick. Frank Rijkaard's side return to the top of the league, five points clear of Madrid, but co-leaders Sevilla FC can break away with a win against CG Tarragona on Sunday.
Forlán openerEarlier in the day, goals from strikers Diego Forlán and Jon Dahl Tomasson handed Villarreal a 2-0 win at struggling Levante. Forlán put Villarreal in front after nine minutes when he curled a superb right-footed shot around keeper José Molina and the visitors secured victory through Tomasson, who fired past Molina 17 minutes from time. Villarreal's fourth away win of the season pushed them up to eleventh place while Levante are now two points above the relegation zone.
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