La Liga: Lionel Messi bags hat-trick against Espanyol

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to help see off Espanyol in the Catalan derby and take Barcelona top of La Liga.

Lionel Messi returned from a disappointing international break to hit a hat-trick on Saturday against Espanyol

Messi collected Ivan Rakitic's pass before curling in the opening goal and added a second from close range following Jordi Alba's pull-back.

The Argentina forward completed his 38th Barcelona hat-trick when he finished off from another Alba cross.

In the end

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to help see off Espanyol in the Catalan derby and take Barcelona top of La Liga. Read Full Story