Lionel
Messi scored and provided three assists as Barcelona equalled a club
record of 12 consecutive league wins by thrashing struggling Getafe
6-0 at the Nou Camp on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
The
Argentine, who also missed a penalty, scored with a brilliant curling
finish from the edge of the area, while Neymar marked his return to
action after suspension by netting either side of halftime.
Barca
remain eight points clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who
beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-0.
Celta
Vigo moved up to fifth in the table with a 1-0 win at home to Real
Sociedad with Iago Aspas scoring the winner in the 16th minute.
An
own goal by Getafe defender Juan Rodriguez put Barca on their way to
their 12th straight victory after eight minutes but then Messi missed
a fourth penalty of the season, before laying on passes for Munir El
Haddadi and Neymar to stretch the hosts' lead.
The
28-year-old Messi added the fourth before the break and was soon
setting up Neymar again in the second half, threading the ball into
the path of the Brazilian, who scored his 25th goal of the season in
all competitions.
Then
Arda Turan completed the thrashing with an overhead volley to finish
off the hapless visitors, who have lost eight of their past nine
league games.
Luis
Enrique's side are in the midst of a record of 37 matches without
defeat in all competitions and the victory over Getafe matched the 12
straight league wins they achieved in 2012-13 under coach Tito
Vilanova.
"We're
a unique team, different from the rest, and the opposition can't do
anything to stop us," Luis Enrique told a news conference.
"We're
in a great situation and feeling very confident."
Barca
went into the match without having to play in midweek for the first
time in 2016, yet Luis Enrique still made five changes from the team
that won 4-0 at Eibar last Sunday.
The
Catalans host Arsenal on Wednesday hoping to reach the quarter-finals
of the Champions League after beating the Premier League side 2-0 in
the first leg.
Atletico
Madrid kept up their faint hopes of catching Barcelona by recording a
fourth straight league win, comfortably beating Deportivo with goals
by midfielder Saul Niguez, top scorer Antoine Griezmann and Argentine
forward Angel Correa.
Saul
headed Atletico in front in the 18th minute by racing into the box to
meet a cross from Filipe Luis.
Griezmann,
who got the only goal in Atletico's 1-0 win over local rivals Real
Madrid a fortnight ago, netted for the fourth game in a row by
swivelling to strike into the bottom corner after a lay-off from
Spain international Koke.
Substitute
Correa put further shine on the victory by finishing off a lofted
pass from captain Gabi, leaving Deportivo in 13th place in the table,
still without a league win in 2016.
Third
place Real Madrid, who are 15 points behind Barcelona, visit Las
Palmas on Sunday.
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