Lionel Messi put on another show at the Camp Nou Sunday, scoring a remarkable goal from a free kick and then helping to set up a hat trick for Luis Suarez — including a daring assist from a penalty kick — as Barcelona thrashed Celta Vigo 6-1. Ivan Rakitic and Neymar also scored as Barcelona opened up a three-point lead in the Spanish league over Atletico Madrid, which edged Getafe 1-0. Real Madrid, which beat Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Saturday with two goals by Cristiano Ronaldo, is four points behind Barcelona in third place. Barcelona has a game in hand. It was an impressive victory by the Catalan club, and the performances by Messi, Suarez and Neymar in the second half neared perfection. "We were spectacular and effective," Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. "I'm used to seeing these players, when they train, they are even better." Messi started the show by curling a left-foot shot over the wall in the 28th minute, and then mesmerized the Camp Nou crowd as he helped Suarez to score in the 59th, 75th and 81st minutes. Suarez's third goal was extra special, with the Uruguay striker and Messi fooling everybody, after Messi was tripped in the area following a nifty dribble past a defender. Messi was set to take the spot-kick himself, but he just rolled the ball to the side for the inrushing Suarez to drive it home. Spanish sports daily AS quickly named the move as the "penalty of the century." While Celta players looked in awe, Suarez and Messi glimpsed at each other and smiled broadly before embracing to celebrate. Luis Enrique tried to cover his mouth while smiling himself at the bench. "Barcelona players, in addition to winning titles, also want to have fun and entertain the members in a fair and spectacular way," the coach said. "It didn't surprise me." The play became famous after Johan Cruyff — a Barcelona hero — executed it while playing for Ajax in 1982. "It's a legal play, some will like it, some won't," Luis Enrique said. "It will generate a lot of debate." Messi had already impressed with a superb flick of the ball over Celta defenders to set up Suarez's first goal, and then by sending a perfect through ball for Neymar inside the area for the team's third goal, finished by Suarez. Suarez, the league's leading scorer with 22 goals, then set up Rakitic's goal in the 84th and Neymar's goal in second-half injury time. Suarez also hit the post in the first half. Celta's goal was a penalty kick converted by John Guidetti in the 39th. Barcelona hasn't lost in 30 consecutive games in all competitions. It had set the club record for most matches without a loss last weekend. The Catalan club plays at Sporting Gijon Wednesday in a match postponed from December because of the Club World Cup. Earlier Sunday, striker Fernando Torres scored with a shot into the roof of the net after a low cross by Yannick Carrasco just two minutes into the match to give Atletico the 1-0 win over Getafe. Also Sunday, fifth-place Sevilla defeated Las Palmas 2-0 with second-half goals by Argentina midfielder Ever Banega and French striker Kevin Gameiro. Sixth-place Eibar beat last-place Levante 2-0. Bayern beats Augsburg In Berlin, Robert Lewandowski's clinical finishing steered Bayern Munich to a 3-1 win at Bavarian rival Augsburg that restored the side's eight-point lead in the Bundesliga Sunday. Lewandowski scored two goals as Franck Ribery was back in the squad for the first time since playing Dinamo Zagreb on Dec. 9 but the French winger stayed on the bench. Earlier, Ivo Ilicevic came off the bench to secure a 3-2 victory for Hamburger SV over Borussia Moenchengladbach that ended his side's run of six league games without a win. — Agencies
