Lionel Messis 15th La Liga hat-trick lit up a nerve-jangling nine-goal thriller as Barcelona survived Javier Mascheranos red card to win 5-4 at Deportivo la Coruna to go three points clear at the top on Saturday.
Messis latest masterclass overshadowed Real Madrids drab 2-0 triumph at home to promoted Celta Vigo. Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo (penalty) scored the goals that lifted Jose Mourinhos team to fourth place, eight points behind arch rivals Barca.
World Player of the Year Messi, who is expecting the imminent birth of his first child, has notched 71 goals for club and country in 2012. That leaves him only four short of the record set by Brazilian great Pele in 1959.
The Argentine has 11 goals in eight La Liga outings this season, two more than Ronaldo. Unbeaten Barca have 22 points, the same as Atletico Madrid who beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the late match last night.
He (Messi) is off to the hospital now for a happy occasion as his son is on the way, Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told Spanish television.
Malaga are third on 17 points after Joaquin made amends for fluffing a penalty by grabbing the winner in a 2-1 victory at home to Real Valladolid.
Barca looked to be cruising to a seventh win of the campaign when they raced into a three-goal lead after 18 minutes at Depors Riazor stadium.The home side pulled two goals back against the run of play through Pizzi (penalty) and Alex Bergantinos before Messi made the most of another Fabregas assist to make it 4-2 at the break.
In a frenetic start to the second half Depor midfielder Pizzi curled in a stunning 47th-minute free kick and Mascherano was harshly shown a second yellow card two minutes later. Messi, appeared to have killed the game when he made it 5-3 . A bizarre own goal from Barca full back Jordi Alba, gave Depor fresh hope but they were unable to make some late pressure count.
