La Liga’s top scorer Messi hits a hat-trick in thumping Barcelona victory over Levante

HERE ARE five talking points from the weekend’s action in La Liga.

It’s easier with Messi

Barcelona suffered their only league defeat of last season at Levante in their penultimate game, spoiling their bid to go unbeaten. This time, it was a wholly different story. Why? Lionel Messi,

pictured, wasn’t rested. La Liga’s top scorer hit a hat-trick and set up the other two in Barcelona’s thumping 5-0 victory on Sunday.

Sevilla are the real deal

Pablo Machin’s side have gone seven league games unbeaten, with the latest an impressive 2-0 victory over Girona on Sunday which sees them sit second.

Courtois keeping Real alive

Thibaut Courtois made an outstanding double save in stoppage time to ensure Real Madrid edged past Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on Saturday as he kept a sixth clean sheet in nine games.

Espanyol nose dive

Sunday’s 3-1 home defeat by Real Betis was Espanyol’s fifth straight league loss. After winning their first five league games at home and turning their Cornella stadium into a fortress, Espanyol now seem vulnerable there, conceding 10 in their last three games.

Griezmann ready for a rest

Despite 10 goals in 23 games across all competitions, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann said that he was still feeling the weight of an intense year which saw him win the Europa League with Atletico and the World Cup with France. |