Real Madrid surprisingly loses to Levante. FC Barcelona take advantage of their rivals’ slip-up and take the lead thanks to four-packer Lionel Messi.Superstar Lionel Messi has ended his longest goal-scoring run in six years in the Lionel Messi style, putting FC Barcelona at the top of the La Liga eight days ahead of Real Madrid’s Clásico.
The six-time world footballer scored a first-half hat-trick for Spanish champions FC Barcelona in their 5-0 (3-0) win over SD Eibar on Saturday, and added a fourth goal to their tally. The league dress rehearsal for the Champions League smash against SSC Naples was impressively successful. Previously, Messi had not scored for four games, but scored six times.Barca also benefited from the slip-up by former leaders Real, who surprisingly lost 1-0 (0-0) in the starting eleven with international Toni Kroos late Saturday night at the 13th UD Levante. Real, who will host the top duel on 1 March (21:00), slipped behind arch-rivals Barcelona (55) on 53 points in their second defeat of the season. Favorite scare Levante had already won its home game against Barca in November (3-1).
Barca pass Real in statistics for most La Liga goals
Messi also provided a successful dress rehearsal for Barca’s Champions League duel against SSC Naples on Tuesday. The Argentinian had previously missed four games but scored six times.
Messi started his show with a scoop after a dance through the opponent’s defence (14th). At 2-0, he scored deliberately into the long corner (37.), three minutes later he only needed to push the ball into the goal. In the 87th minute followed goal number four, then Arthur was allowed to score (89.). National player Marc-Andre ter Stegen had little to do in the Catalan goal.
The five goals also earned the Catalans the top spot in the statistics for the most goals in the history of La Liga, past Real Madrid. The Catalans are now one goal ahead of their arch-rivals with 6151 goals.