Barcelona stay three points clear at top of LaLiga as Lionel Messi nets 49th career hat-trick in win over Levante

Barcelona stay three points clear at top of LaLiga as Lionel Messi nets 49th career hat-trick in win over Levante
Lionel Messi scored his 49th career hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Levante 5-0 to stay three points clear at the top of LaLiga.The reigning champions needed no reminder of their last visit to the Ciutat de Valencia, when their hopes of completing an unbeaten domestic campaign were extinguished in a shock 5-4 defeat in May.3

Lionel Messi hit another treble for Barcelona

But a repeat was never on the cards after Luis Suarez opened the scoring and Messi then took over in style with three goals in 17 minutes.Thomas Vermaelen had a chance to open the scoring after nine minutes but he failed to convert a free header from Messi’s corner.Moments later Messi curled a shot wide, but Levante had their moments in the early stages too, not least in the 32nd minute when Emmanuel Boateng hammered a shot against the underside of the crossbar which just stayed out.It was a costly miss as two minutes later Enis Bardhi’s attempt to play his way out of trouble backfired spectacularly.The loose ball fell to Messi, who jinked his way across the outside of the penalty area before providing an improbable reverse pass to Suarez.There was still plenty to do but Suarez, with both feet off the ground, executed a perfect cushioned volley past Oier Olazabal to break the deadlock.3

Luis Suarez celebrates netting for Barcelona against Levante

Two minutes before half-time Messi doubled the lead, this time after a mistake by Ruben Rochina on the halfway line.Rochina’s pass went straight to Sergio Busquets, who immediately sent Messi racing through to fire through the legs of Oier and into the net.Levante had clearly not learned their lesson as, two minutes after the restart, another loose pass in midfield handed Barca their third.This time Suarez led the charge before feeding Jordi Alba, who drove the ball across the area for Messi to sweep home.Messi completed his treble on the hour, Suarez bulldozing his way down the left before crossing to Arturo Vidal, who laid the ball back for the Argentinian to tap in.

| GOAL! | Lionel Messi has his hat-trick! That nutmeg and pass from Luis Suarez was sublime pic.twitter.com/eMMuZdUr9d— Eleven Sports (@ElevenSports_UK) December 16, 2018

Levante’s already slim hopes of replicating last season’s scoreline disappeared when they lost Erick Cabaco to a red card 14 minutes from the end.Instead Gerard Pique helped himself to the fifth, wandering the length of the field exchanging passes as he went before wrapping up the scoring.Sevilla are three points behind Barca in second after beating Girona 2-0 for their first win in three league games.Ever Banega’s 55th-minute penalty opened the scoring and Pablo Sarabia finished off a brilliant team move nine minutes later to wrap up the points.3

Pablo Sarabia kept Sevilla in the hunt for LaLiga title glory

Sevilla’s city rivals Real Betis moved into the top five after netting twice in the final five minutes to complete a 3-1 comeback win at Espanyol.Veteran striker Sergio Garcia put Espanyol ahead but Giovani Lo Celso – who had earlier missed from the penalty spot – levelled before the break for the visitors.Cristian Tello, a former Espanyol player, put Betis ahead in the 85th minute with a brilliant free-kick before Oscar Duarte’s own goal ended Espanyol’s challenge.In Sunday’s other game, new Villarreal coach Luis Garcia, who replaced Javi Calleja on Monday, saw his side concede a last-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at rock-bottom Huesca. Juan Camilo Hernandez’s penalty put Huesca in front but Villarreal levelled through a spot-kick of their own, scored by Carlos Bacca.Huesca were handed a great chance to re-take the lead in the 66th minute when they were awarded another penalty following a foul in the box by Mario Gasper, who was subsequently dismissed after being shown a second yellow card.Gonzalo Melero saw his penalty saved by Sergio Asenjo, though, and the 10 men of Villarreal then managed to take the lead when Gerard Moreno netted nine minutes from time.However, the Yellow Submarine could not hold on and Samuele Longo’s scrappy goal four minutes into stoppage time earned Huesca a point.

---

Arsenal legend: 'Id rather keep Aaron Ramsey than Mesut Ozil' Speaking in an interview with TalkSport, 'I would rather have Aaron Ramsey.' Mesut Ozil injury update before
Arsenal are better off selling Mesut Ozil and keeping Aaron

---

The goal was controversial, however, with Everton's Theo Walcott appearing to be offside in the build-up. "I prefer not to say anything about the referees," said Watford manager Javi Gracia. "If VAR was ready today the result would have been different."
Unhappy Watford boss Javi Gracia calls for VAR - foxsports.ph

---

England legend Peter Shilton has paid an emotional tribute to World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has sadly died at the age of 81. It was announced on Tuesday the iconic gloveman had
Gordon Banks: Peter Shilton's emotional tribute to fellow

---

With the season now over and the summer transfer window now open, the rumour mill is expected to turn. With Real Madrid expected to spend big this summer, with the likes of Eden Hazard and Paul Pogba on the radar, Christian Eriksen is the latest name to emerge as a summer target.
Real Madrid transfer news: Most likely ins and outs ranked

---

Today the online game firm kicked off the FIFA 19 World Tour with the assistance of Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, Grime artist Stormzy and comic, rapper and actor Michael Dapaah aka Big Shaq.
sport news Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford sit down to play

---

The Monaco head coach was displeased with what he perceived as time-wasting from Strasbourg defender Kenny Lala Monaco head coach Thierry Henry stated that he felt the sight of Kenny Lala time-wasting was "too much" after TV cameras caught him seemingly launching a foul-mouthed rant at the Strasbourg defender on Saturday.
Henry explains foul-mouthed confrontation with Strasbourg's

---

Who is Emiliano Sala? The Cardiff City record transfer on

---

Manchester United could let Antonio Valencia leave in transfer next week with Newcastle and Fulham keen The 33-year-old - who is set to become a free agent in the summer - has featured just five
Man Utd transfer news: Captain Antonio Valencia could leave

---

Boca-River Libertadores Final Postponed Again After Attack The Copa Libertadores final between fierce Argentine rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate was postponed Sunday in a major embarrassment
Boca-River Libertadores Final Postponed Again after Attack

---

Borussia Dortmund hosts Bayern Munich in a Der Klassiker matchup on Saturday, Nov. 10. Kickoff from Signal Iduna Park is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET. Dortmund (7-0-3) remains undefeated 10 matches
Where to find Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund on US TV

---

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer FULL TRANSCRIPT: Every word from Man Utd manager's press conference Solskjaer to MUTV - Early team news. "It's true that an offer from Manchester United was on the
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United - player ratings - arseblog.news

---

Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool, RESULT: Lionel Messi double leaves Reds with a huge mountain to climb in Champions League semi-final as Luis Suarez also haunts former club at the Nou Camp
Luis Suárez - Wikipedia

---

Marco Silva insists he has no interest in the impact Manchester City's trip to Everton might have upon the Premier League title race. City will replace Everton's Merseyside rivals Liverpool at the
Marco Silva - Page 2 - talkSPORT

---