You have to feel a little bad for Leganes. No one was going to stop Lionel Messi on Saturday. You also have to feel bad for anyone who doesn’t like Ray Hudson, because he was in full form as well. Barcelona inched closer to the LaLiga title with a 3-1 win over Leganes at the Camp Nou thanks to a Lionel Messi hat trick.
The Blaugrana moved 12 points above Atletico Madrid, which plays rival Real Madrid on Sunday.
Poor Leganes tried everything to slow Messi down, but, as is often the case, it was just Messi’s day.
When you need to stop Leo Messi, but @WrestleMania isn't until tomorrow. #BarcaLeganes pic.twitter.com/dyxVqFXm6K
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 7, 2018
Messi opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a wonderful free kick, his sixth free kick goal of the season.
GOOOOAAAAL: The angle was acute, but Leo Messi doesn't care about geometry! His 6th free kick goal of the season puts @FCBarcelona in front. #BarcaLeganes pic.twitter.com/tqchb6R9HD
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 7, 2018
Five minutes later it was 2-0 as Messi again sent Hudson into a tizzy with a perfect first touch.
One is good, TWO is better! Leo Messi scores his second goal in 5 minutes, and @FCBarcelona are in total control. #BarcaLeganes pic.twitter.com/WPxDcna0ef
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 7, 2018
After Leganes pulled one back in the second half, the Lionel Messi hat trick was completed to put the game away in the 87th minute.
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A delicate flick completes Leo Messi's hat-trick and seals a victory for @FCBarcelona! #BarcaLeganes pic.twitter.com/H8yd8bb1tQ— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 7, 2018
After another Lionel Messi hat trick, the Barcelona man now leads LaLiga with 26 goals, four more than both Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.
Barcelona has now gone 38 matches unbeaten in LaLiga play.