Barca 4-1 Celta: Hat-trick hero Messi lifts Barca top after hitting 2 free-kicks

Messi is the hat-trick hero once again as Ernesto Valverde's side maintain lead at top of the table

Match Report

The Argentine scored from the penalty spot before giving away a free-kick which led to Olaza's equaliser for the visitors.

But on the stroke of half-time, a trademark free-kick from the 32-year-old put Barca in front.

And he sealed his 34th La Liga hat-trick - tying Cristiano Ronaldo's record - with another superb free-kick to give Ernesto Valverde's side some comfort at the Camp Nou.

Sergio Busquets then sealed the win with a strike into the corner with five minutes remaining to kill off struggling Celta.

After Real Madrid had beaten Eibar 4-0 earlier in the day, the Blaugrana are back at the top of La Liga, leading their rivals on goal difference.

La Liga Standings

Match Events

23' Penalty Goal! Barcelona 1-0 Celta (Messi)

GOAL! 1-0 Barca, Messi scores from the spot! He jogs up and strokes the spot-kick left-footed into the bottom-left corner. Blanco falls the other way. It isn't exactly deserved, but Barca lead.

23' Semedo is replaced by Busquets

Semedo has gone off, presumably with an injury, replaced by Busquets.

42' Barcelona 1-1 Celta (Olaza)

GOAAL!! 1-1! What a strike from Olaza! The free-kick is to the right of centre, eight yards or so outside the penalty area, and the left-back steps up to bend a brilliant left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner.

46' Barcelona 2-1 Celta (Messi)

2-1 BARCA! Messi bends the free-kick into the top corner, because of course he does! It might as well have been a penalty. 25 yards out, slightly to the right of centre, left foot, top-right corner. Honestly, it's just stupid how good he is at those.

48' GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Celta (Messi)

WHAT IS ANYBODY SUPPOSED TO DO?! 3-1 BARCA, MESSI HAT-TRICK! Barca get a free-kick just outside the area and Messi curls it inside the right post. Blanco knows exactly what he's going to do and he can't get near it. This is just ridiculous. Somebody stop him.

61' WHAT A CHANCE missed by Griezmann!

Busquets and De Jong harry Cheikh to get the ball back in midfield and Messi threads a pass into Griezmann who's in behind down the left, but Blanco comes out to smother his close-range shot.

85' GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Celta (Busquets)

4-1 Barca, an unexpected banger from Busquets! Dembele holds the ball up on the left before crossing towards the back post. The cross is headed away by Junca but only as far as Busquets at the edge of the area, and the midfielder takes a touch before slapping it into the bottom-left corner

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