Messi hat-trick takes Barcelona to unbeaten 35-game record

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) vies with Rayo Vallecano's defender Diego Llorente during the Spanish league football match at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on March 3, 2016.

Barcelona have set a new Spanish football record of 35 games unbeaten in all competitions. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as they thrashed nine-man Rayo Vallecano 5-1 win in La Liga on Thursday night. In other games, Real Betis registered a 3-0 win at Espanyol and Granada beat Sporting Gijon 2-0. Barca now lead Atletico Madrid by eight points at the top of the league standings, while Real Madrid are a further four points behind in third with 11 matches remaining.

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