10.01.2010 23:55
Third hat-trick and top scorer
Anna Segura
Lionel Messi scored his third hat-trick for FC Barcelolna's first-team with a trio of goals on Sunday evening against Tenerife and joined Valencia's David Villa as the league's top goalscorer this term with 12.
The Canary islands proved to be a rich hunting ground once again for the Blaugrana and the
Argentinian was in fine form as he netted three of the visitors goals in a 0-5 triumph. While
Víctor Valdés kept the ball out at one end, Messi scored at the other while Andrés Iniesta created
the space and Bojan Krkic supplied the passes.
Hat-trick ball
At the end of the game Messi ensured that he kept the matchball for scoring his
hat-trick but it was not his first for Barça. That came on March 10, 2007 when he netted three
times against Real Madrid in Camp Nou in a 3-3 draw.
His second hat-trick came in the Vicente Calderón last term. On January 6, 2009 the forward
was applauded by the Atlético de Madrid fans for his display.
Third favourite
"I am happy with the win and with my three goals," Messi said after the
win against Tenerife. "The third one was my favourite. I want to thank the people of Tenerife. I
was a great game and I think we deserved for all our hard work."
Chart topper
With his three goals on Sunday Messi moved level with Villa at the top of the Pichichi charts
with 12 goals. In all competitions the FC Barcelona forward has 19 to his name.
Images: Miguel Ruiz (FCB)
Puyol scores again in Tenerife
Carles Puyol nodded honme Barça's second goal against Tenerife on Sunday eight years after he
scored in the club's 0-6 win against the same opponents in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López. It is,
however, the Blaugrana captain's first goal this season as he had not netted since he scored in the
historic 2-6 triumph against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu last term.