Lionel Messi's second hat trick in eight days took his season tally to 34 goals Sunday as Barcelona won 4-2 at Zaragoza to stay second in the Spanish league behind Real Madrid. The Argentina forward, who also hit a hat trick last weekend against Valencia, now has a league-leading 25 goals after tormenting Zaragoza's defense with a combination of close dribbling, strength and deadly finishing. “He's the best player in the history of football,” Barcelona president Joan Laporta said. Messi headed home Pedro Rodriguez's cross in the fifth minute, but it was his 66th-minute strike that will be added to his lengthening list of great goals. He stole possession near halfway, bursting past one player before his quick feet left defender Matteo Contini on the turf. Contini could only clutch at his opponent's shorts as Messi beat goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez with a low shot that brought a standing ovation from most fans at La Romareda stadium. Messi followed that up with a curled shot in the 78th to beat Jimenez and claim his fifth career hat trick. Zaragoza's Adrian Colunga took advantage of defensive lapses to score twice in the closing moments. But Messi's dazzling skills led Contini to drag him down for a 90th-minute penalty that Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted for his first goal in March. Madrid and Barcelona both have 68 points, but Madrid leads on goal difference. Mallorca moved into the Spanish league's Champions League places with a 4-1 victory over Atletico Madrid, while David Silva paced third-place Valencia to a 2-0 win over Almeria. Valencia has 50 points, Mallorca 46, Sevilla 44 and Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo La Coruna both have 42. Also, Racing Santander came from behind to win 3-1 at Osasuna and Nabil Baha scored two second-half goals as Malaga beat Villarreal 2-0. In Saturday's games, it was: Real Madrid 3, Sporting Gijon 1; Xerez 2, Tenerife 1; Deportivo La Coruna 0, Valladolid 2; Athletic Bilbao 2, Getafe 2 and Espanyol 2, Sevilla 0. Milan stays 2nd AC Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A when it drew 1-1 at home to Napoli Sunday. Napoli took the lead in the 13th through Hugo Campagnaro before Filippo Inzaghi equalized in the 26th. Milan then wasted a number of chances in the second half to stay one point behind Inter Milan in the standings. Inter drew 1-1 with Palermo Saturday, leaving it vulnerable at the top. Inter has 60 points, with Milan on 59 and AS Roma third with 56. At the bottom of the table, Siena beat Bologna 1-0 to move up one place thanks to a goal from Marcelo Larrondo. Livorno is now bottom following its 3-0 loss to Atalanta, which is also in the relegation zone. Sampdoria beat Juventus 1-0 in Sunday's late game to move above its opponent and into fifth place. Also Sunday, it was; Bari 1, Parma 1; Cagliari 0, Lazio 2; Chievo Verona 1, Catania 1.
