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Valencia destroyed by second-half Messi hat-trick

Other News Materials 15 March 2010 00:26 (UTC +04:00)
FIFA World Player Lionel Messi destroyed 10-man Valencia single-handedly on Sunday, scoring a memorable second-half hat-trick in Barcelona's 3-0 home win.
Valencia destroyed by second-half Messi hat-trick

FIFA World Player Lionel Messi destroyed 10-man Valencia single-handedly on Sunday, scoring a memorable second-half hat-trick in Barcelona's 3-0 home win.

Barca turned in another dull, disjointed display but were rescued by Messi, who is way out on top of the scorers' chart with 22 goals, dpa reported.

"It was a really enjoyable second half, and it's another important win for us," said Messi.

Barca are now three points ahead of Real Madrid, who are away to lowly Valladolid later on Sunday.

Valencia looked the better team in a tedious, low-quality first half, but the visitors lacked the penetration of injured striker David Villa.

The game came to belated life in the 56th minute, when Messi broke the stalemate with one of his wonder goals. He took a short pass from Xavi out on the left, calmly skipped past three defenders and scored with a clever near-post shot.

Nikola Zigic should have levelled for Valencia but was foiled by Barca keeper Victor Valdes, who is enjoying the best season of his career.

The visitors were then crippled by the sending off of defender Hedwiges Maduro.

Nine minutes from time Messi made it 2-0 with a well-placed, left- foot drive, after taking a long pass from Thierry Henry.

Two minutes later the Argentine took advantage of some weary defending to make it 3-0 with his right foot.

Sunday's early games all had a relegation significance.

Malaga and Espanyol are back in trouble in the Spanish league after painful defeats.

Malaga lost 1-0 against resurgent Almeria, Espanyol crashed 4-1 away to fellow strugglers Tenerife.

A month ago Malaga and Espanyol were safely above the danger zone, now they are right back in the relegation dog fight.

Almeria have cruised up the table since Juanma Lillio took over from Hugo Sanchez in December. Their winner against Malaga came in the 56th minute, when Fernando Soriano broke the deadlock with a powerful drive after Santiago Acasietes had headed down.

Espanyol, meanwhile, were having another bad away day, this time in Santa Cruz.

Nino was the hero for Tenerife with two handsome goals.

Villarreal, for their part, beat bottom team Xerez 2-0 with goals from Joseba Llorente and Damian Escudero.

Sunday's other early game was a tame 0-0 draw between Racing Santander and Zaragoza, both of whom remain in trouble.

These results leave doomed Xerez with just 15 points from 26 games. Then come Valladolid with 20 and Tenerife on 23.

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