Messi hat-trick inspires Barca triumph

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Messi hat-trick inspires Barca triumph

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Lionel Messi scored a rare header in his hat trick on to lead Barcelona to a 4-1 win against Malaga.

23 January,2012 03:34 am

Lionel Messi scored his 14th Barcelona hat-trick as the champions cruised to a 4-1 win at Malaga on Sunday to close the gap on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to just two points.Messi found the target in the 33rd, 50th and 80th minutes to take his seasons goal tally to 22, one more than Reals Cristiano Ronaldo whose side can restore their five-point advantage when they face Athletic Bilbao later Sunday.This was only Barcas fourth league victory on their travels and Messis goals also brought to an end a poor personal run as of his 19 goals going into the game only one had come away from home.Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola left Carles Puyol, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez on the bench with one eye on Wednesdays Kings Cup quarter-final second leg clash with Real, where his side defend a 2-1 lead.Still it was a sluggish first half from the Catalan side and Malaga had the better openings notably for Isco Alarcon, who had a shot well-saved by keeper Victor Valdes.He was denied twice more by the shot-stopper with a header and a close range strike.But Messi then headed home an Adriano cross to put the visitors ahead after 33 minutes.After the break Barcelona raised the tempo with Alexis Sanchez and Messi both scoring within five minutes and the Argentine in particular had clicked into gear.He hit a free-kick against the woodwork before out-running the defence to slot in his third of the night.With five minutes to go, substitute Jose Rondon claimed a consolation for Malaga.