Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and assisted two goals, as Barcelona defeated Levante on Sunday. It was a satisfactory revenge, after Barca lost 5-4 to Levante last season, which stopped them from completing the League unbeaten.
The game was opened up in the 34th minute, after Messi sent a clever cross towards Suarez who buried it into the net with a beautiful volley. Barca was back again nine minutes later, as Sergio Busquets put Messi one on one with the keeper with a through ball, and Messi doubling Barca's lead.
Just two minutes after the start of the second half, Messi found the back of the net again, with an assist from Jordi Alba. In the 60th minute, Messi goes on to make it a hat trick, scoring Barca's 4th goal with the help of Arturo Vidal.
With the game already taken away from them, Erick Cabaco gets sent off with a straight red card after he fouled Dembele, leaving Levante to play the remaining 14 minutes with only 10 men. Barca went on to add to Levante's troubles in the 88th minute, with Messi assisting Pique; who scored the last goal of the game and Barca's 5th.
The game saw Barca take a 3 point lead to top the table, after Atletico Madrid and Sevilla previously became level on points with them.