Espanyol face-flat before Messi's hat-trick

Lionel Messi caps 256 La Liga goals in 291 appearances following Barca's 5-1 defeat over Espanyol this weekend. Garcia's opening goal set the Barcelona in a slight frenzy that was contained with Messi's two successive goals in 45th- and 50th minutes respectively. Gerard Pique headed in the third at 53th minute and Pedro drowned the Espanyol side with a 77th minute fourth goal. Messi heightened their opponent's ill-luck with a 81th minute goal. The victory saw Barcelona climb to second place behind first-placed Real Madrid. Messi stays 2 goals behind Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo's 23rd La Liga goals.