Messi hat-trick helps Barcelona beat Leganes, equal La Liga record of 38 games without defeat
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scored a
hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Leganes on
Saturday which took the Catalans 12 points
clear at the top of La Liga and also meant
they equalled a Spanish top-flight record of
38 games without defeat.
Messi curled in from a free kick to break
the deadlock in the 27th minute. Five
minutes later the Argentine doubled the
lead, taking one touch to control a through
ball from Philippe Coutinho before
delivering a cool low finish.
Nabil El Zhar pulled a goal back for 14th-
placed Leganes in the 68th minute.
However, Messi made sure Barca kept all
the points by hitting his third with three
minutes left, controlling the ball on his
chest and calmly chipping goalkeeper Ivan
Cuellar from close range.
Barca have not lost in the league since
going down 2-0 at Malaga on April 8 last
year and the win saw them match Real
Sociedad's unbeaten run between 1979 and
- Ernesto Valverde's side are also
undefeated in the Champions League this
campaign.
The Catalans are top of La Liga with 79
points after 31 games and have a 12-point
advantage over second-placed Atletico
Madrid, who visit champions Real Madrid in
a local derby on Sunday.
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