LIONEL MESSI put on another show at the Camp Nou on Sunday, scoring a remarkable goal from a free kick and then helping to set up a hat trick for Luis Suarez 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.

    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.

    Celta players and coach Eduardo Berizzo downplayed the incident.

    ‘The penalty was taken in a different way, there’s nothing more to it,” Berizzo said. (SD-Agencies)