Magical Messi puts Barca back on top of La Liga

Magical Messi puts Barca back on top of La Liga
Magical Messi puts Barca back on top of La Liga Tweet this (1)

* Messi triple lifts champions Barca back above Real Madrid
* Real can reclaim top spot with a win at Real Valladolid (adds details, byline, results)
By Iain Rogers

MADRID, March 14 (Reuters) - A sublime Lionel Messi hat-trick fired Barcelona to a 3-0 home win over third-placed Valencia on Sunday and sent the champions three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
After a draw and a defeat in their previous four La Liga matches, Barca needed a convincing performance at the Nou Camp to get their title defence back on course and again it was league top scorer Messi who made the difference.
The European champions found it difficult to exert their customary dominance in a goalless first half before the Argentina forward skipped through the Valencia defence in the 56th minute and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez.
Substitute Thierry Henry set Messi up for his 21st and 22nd goals of the campaign, the first after he cut in from the right and curled the ball into the far corner and the second a dinked effort that left Sanchez on the seat of his pants.
Real, who went top on goal difference last weekend after Barca were held 2-2 at Almeria, can reclaim first place with victory at struggling Real Valladolid in Sunday's late kickoff (2000 GMT).
Real, looking to bounce back after their shock Champions League exit in midweek, were without Brazilian playmaker Kaka and French striker Karim Benzema, both out injured.
Barca and Valencia were both missing their leading strikers, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended after his sending-off in Almeria and Spain international David Villa sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola was also forced to watch from the stands after he was dismissed from the bench last weekend.
CLEAN THROUGH
The best early chance fell to Valencia midfielder Jordi Alba in the fifth minute. Portuguese defender Miguel Monteira whipped over a cross from the right and Alba's powerful header flashed narrowly over the crossbar.
Barca's first clear opening came when Messi robbed defender Angel Dealbert and raced clear but his low strike flew just wide.
After Messi put the home side ahead after the break, Barca keeper Victor Valdes produced a superb stop to deny substitute Nikola Zigic in the 68th with the Serb clean through on goal.
Valencia defender Hedwiges Maduro picked up a second yellow card and was sent off with just over 20 minutes left before Messi struck twice in two minutes to kill off the game.

The Guardian.uk