LIONEL MESSI ended a brief goalless run with his 13th career hat trick as Barcelona beat Mallorca 5-0 Saturday, while Real Madrid provisionally moved top of the table after a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad.

    Messi’s goal drought of three matches had raised eyebrows in Spain, but the Argentina forward left no doubt over his form by taking his season tally to 19 goals inside half an hour. Isaac Cuenca and Daniel Alves added second-half goals at Camp Nou.

    “It seems crazy to me to say that I’m in a crisis after just three games without a goal,” Messi said. “There’s no pressure as long as the team keeps winning.”

    Gonzalo Higuain’s ninth-minute goal proved enough at the Anoeta Stadium for Madrid to end October with a perfect record and lead with 25 points from 10 games, one better than defending champion Barcelona and two more than Levante, which can return to the top later with a victory at Osasuna.

    Villarreal prepared for its must-win Champions League match against Manchester City on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano to end an eight-game winless run, while Valencia stayed in touch of the leaders with a 3-1 win over Getafe.

    Messi left himself one goal shy of 200 by converting a 13th-minute penalty after Emilio Nsue handled from Barcelona fullback Adriano inside the area.

    Cuenca’s cross came off Adriano to fall rigth to Messi at the far post, the Argentine only having to open his right foot to redirect the ball into goal for 2-0 in the 21st.

    Alves then sent a perfect long ball into the area for Messi to guide home with his left foot for his second hat trick of the season, which put him second on Barcelona’s all-time league top scorers’ list with 132.

    Cuenca blasted a shot over goalkeeper Dudu Aouate into the roof of goal in the 50th for his first goal in his second senior start.(SD-Agencies)