|
MADRID, Dec. 16-- Leo Messi scored a hat-trick as FC Barcelona romped to a 5-0 win away to Levante on Sunday night to retain their three point lead at the top of the Liga Santander. Barca already led 1-0 after Luis Suarez opened the scoring following a Messi pass, when Messi scored his first goal. The Argentinean doubled Barca's lead from a Sergio Busquets pass two minutes before the break and sealed the win in the first minute of the second half with a low left foot shot into the right hand corner of the Levante net. He completed his hat-trick from close range after good work from Arturo Vidal and Gerard Pique rounded off the scoring two minutes from the end. Sevilla remain in second place after second half goals from Ever Banega (from the penalty spot) and Pablo Sarabia saw Pablo Machin's side to a 2-0 win over his former club - Girona. Betis came back from behind to defeat Espanyol 3-1 to extend Espanyol's losing streak to 5 games. Sergio Garcia opened the scoring for Espanyol after Giovani Lo Celso had seen his penalty saved by Diego Lopez, but Lo Celso made up with a powerful shot to level the scores before halftime. Cristian Tello put Betis ahead with a free kick with 5 minutes remaining and Oscar Duarte's own goal in the closing second ended another miserable day for Espanyol. There were 3 penalties as Huesca drew 2-2 at home to Villarreal, with the visitors having to thank Sergio Asenjo for a series of excellent saves to earn them a point in Luis Garcia's league debut as coach. | 
