AFP/Barcelona


Lionel Messi struck a stunning hat-trick to ensure Barcelona maintained the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-0 win away to Deportivo la Coruna to cut the gap at the top to one point.
Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off a week where he was named World Player of the Year for the third time by scoring twice as Madrid struck three times in the final half hour to beat Getafe 3-0.
Atletico Madrid, who dumped Real out of the Copa del Rey in midweek, moved back to within four points of their city rivals in third as goals from Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia handed them a 2-0 win over managerless Granada.
In a change from his much criticised rotation policy, Enrique named the same side that beat Atletico 3-1 at home last weekend and was rewarded with another bright display illuminated by Messi’s class in front of goal.
The Argentine’s first effort of the game was brilliantly saved by Fabricio after a well-worked corner, but the Deportivo goalkeeper was helpless when the four-time World Player of the Year opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a thunderous header from Ivan Rakitic’s cross.
Messi then showed a more subtle touch for his second with a delicate chip over the prone Fabricio to double Barca’s advantage from Neymar’s pass.
However, by contrast, Luis Suarez’s troubles in front of goal continued as he fluffed his lines twice in the first-half with just Fabricio to beat.
Messi showed the Uruguayan how it should be done once more when he rounded off his 30th hat-trick for the club after the break when he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and fired into the far corner before an own goal from Deportivo defender Sidnei rounded off the scoring.
Reports have been swirling about a rift between Messi and coach Enrique, with the Argentine apparently unhappy with the Barca coach’s management style and tactics and said to be seeking an exit from the club he joined at the age of 13.
The frosty relationship reportedly detoriated further when Messi was left on the bench for his side’s 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad earlier this month.
Messi responded by saying he was not thinking of leaving but he has not explicitly denied claims his relationship with Enrique has broken down.
Whatever the reality of the situation, if Messi continues his prolific scoring form Barca will have a good chance of returning to winning ways this term after failing to win major silverware in 2013-14 for the first time in six years.
“He has been playing at a phenomenal level the whole season,” Enrique told a news conference on Sunday. “He has not dropped off at any moment,” added the former Barca and Spain midfielder, who took over from Messi’s compatriot Gerardo Martino at the end of last season.
However, Enrique is still looking for further improvements if the Catalans are to continue their pursuit of honours on three fronts this season. “Winning is good for the players’ confidence but there are still many things to improve, both in attack and defence. We still need to improve in both areas because that is the only way to challenge for all the titles,” the Barca boss said.
One of the reported reasons for the dressing room discontent with Enrique has been his much criticised rotation policy. The 44-year-old named a different line-up for the 29th consecutive game, but maintained the same eleven that started against Atletico last weekend.
However, he refused to admit he had bowed to pressure from his players for a more settled side. “I am not faithful to one single manner of doing things. I played the 11 I think will work best. We will be stronger the more players we have contributing to the cause.”
And Barca’s captain on the day, Andres Iniesta, backed his coach’s intention to keep all his players heavily involved throughout the campaign.
“I don’t think the rotations are bad, that way we all feel useful and important,” said the Spanish international. “It also makes sure we are in a good situation to get to the end of all the competitions in better condition. In the end what matters is what the coach says and we have to execute it in the best way possible.”
Barca’s attention now turns to tomorrow’s meeting with Atletico, the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie. “We have an exciting few weeks ahead of us, but it is a very intense and tough tie against a difficult opponent in Atletico. We need to be at our best without committing errors,” said Enrique.
Messi’s treble was his 22nd in La Liga, one fewer than Real Madrid’s Portugal forward Ronaldo, who beat Messi into second place to win a third FIFA Ballon d’Or award last Monday. Messi, voted the world’s best player four times between 2009 and 2012, has hit 30 hat-tricks for Barca in all competitions and three for Argentina.
Real, who have a game in hand, top La Liga on 45 points at the halfway point of the season, with Barca second on 44 and Atletico third on 41.  
Elsewhere, Sevilla moved to within two points of Atletico in fourth with a 2-0 win over Andalusian rivals Malaga thanks to goals either side of half-time from Carlos Bacca and Denis Suarez.