Messi on target to lift Barce to the top

BARCELONA has quickly put an agonising August behind it and taken the early lead of the Spanish league.

Lionel Messi scored a hattrick to lead its 5-0 win over cross-town rival Espanyol yesterday, making it the only side to win its first three games in La Liga.

Real Madrid fell four points adrift and sits sixth after a second consecutive draw at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, 1-1 with newly promoted Levante.

Barcelona entered the league campaign reeling from the unwanted departure of Neymar to Paris SaintGermain and a stinging loss to Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

But new coach Ernesto Valverde has refocused his players, and Messi has done the rest by scoring five goals to lead the competition.

“We are at the start of the season and the differences are not significant, but it sure is better to be ahead than behind,” Valverde said.

In further good news for its long-term prospects, the player signed to help fill the hole left by Neymar had a positive debut.

France forward Ousmane Dembele went on as a secondhalf substitute and set up Luis Suarez to complete the demolition of Espanyol.

The 20-year-old Dembele produced the kind of speed Barcelona wanted from him when he raced down the right flank to reach a long pass and then deliver a precise low cross for Suarez to score. SEVILLA warmed up for its Champions League match at Liverpool on Thursday by easing past Eibar 3-0. ATLETICO Madrid drew with home side Valencia 0-0 in a dull match, with both sides staying undefeated.