Messi tricks his way to yet another dominant effort

MADRID - Barcelona tied the record for longest unbeaten run in La Liga history on Saturday as a Lionel Messi hat-trick inspired the runaway leaders to a 3-1 win over Leganes to make it 38 league games unbeaten.

The Catalan giant will look to break the record that Real Sociedad set in 1979-80 when it hosts Valencia this weekend, with Ernesto Valverde's side now just seven matches from becoming the first La Liga side to go through a campaign without tasting defeat.

Messi was the star of the show at Camp Nou with a magnificent treble, as Barca stretched its lead at the top to 12 points ahead of second-place Atletico Madrid's derby against Real Madrid on Sunday.