Barcelona went to the top of the table as Messi scores hat-trick against Rayo

Barca took full advantage of Real Madrid's defeat by Athletic Bilbao as Luis Suarez also scored twice. 

Suarez fired the hosts ahead and Gerard Pique forced in the second before Messi netted three in 12 minutes. He scored a twice-taken penalty, tapped in the fourth and added a classy fifth before Suarez wrapped it up after an Alberto Bueno penalty for Rayo.

Both sides finished with 10 men as Román Triguero collected a second yellow card for pulling down Suarez, conceding the penalty that allowed Messi to make it 3-0.

Barca defender Dani Alves was then dismissed 10 minutes from the end for tripping Bueno as he went through on goal. The Rayo striker took the penalty himself to move to 13 La Liga goals for season. 

Messi now has 30 league goals, the same total as Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, whose tally of 23 La Liga hat-tricks now trails Messi by one. 

The 27-year-old Argentine, now also holds the record as the most prolific hat-trick scorer in Spanish football, with his 32 in all competitions eclipsing the total he previously shared with Telmo Zarra, who played most of his football for Athletic Bilbao from 1940-55. 

...BBCSport