Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to reach the 400-goal mark for Barcelona and spark his team's 5-1 comeback victory over Espanyol in Sunday's Catalan capital derby, keeping the winners in second place in the Spanish league.
Messi matched Cristiano Ronaldo's three-goal performance in Real Madrid's win the day before to ensure Barcelona stayed within two points of their fierce rivals at the top of the table. It was Messi's third hat trick in two weeks, having also netted three goals against Sevilla in the league and APOEL in the Champions League.
Sergio Garcia put Espanyol in front in the 13th minute in a good first half for the visitors, but Messi curled home the equalizer in injury time before the break to change the flow of the game.
Messi fired in his second in the 50th and added a third after Gerard Pique and substitute Pedro Rodriguez had scored in a second half completely dominated by Barcelona.
They were Messi's 400th, 401st and 402nd goals for Barcelona, including friendlies. They took his league tally for this season to 13 goals, far behind Ronaldo's runaway total of 23.
Also on Sunday, Carlos Bacca scored early to help secure Sevilla's 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano as the Andalusian side tightened its hold on fourth place.
Barcelona host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, with both already qualified for the knockout rounds.
Espanyol played their best 45 minutes of the season in the first half at Camp Nou, defending well and launching effective three effective counterattacks.
Felipe Caicedo's pressure led to Espanyol' goal when the striker stole the ball from Sergio Busquets in Barcelona's half. Garcia quickly dribbled forward and changed pace to shed Pique's mark before firing under goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
With Luis Enrique and Neymar held in check, Barcelona turned to Messi to spark its comeback.
The Argentine earned a foul and bent a free kick that hit the crossbar on the half-hour mark before setting up Jordi Alba, only for goalie Kiko Casilla to save.
Garcia and Victor Sanchez both squandered opportunities to extend Espanyol's lead before Messi broke through its disciplined defense. Messi received Xavi Hernandez's pass and used two quick touches before threading a left-footed shot through the crowd and just inside the upright.
He got his second after halftime when Barcelona was on the break. Neymar led the way before Suarez crossed for Messi, who poked the ball under defender Juan Fuentes and drilled it home with his right boot.
Pique quickly ended Espanyol's hopes in the 53rd by heading in Ivan Rakitic's corner kick.
Espanyol was then caught off balance when Pedro scored in the 77th before Messi worked a one-two with the forward to get his treble in the 81st.
Bacca took advantage of Cristian Alvarez's hesitation to head a lobbed pass over the goalkeeper and then used his feet to roll the ball into an empty net in the eighth minute at Vallecas Stadium.
"We strikers let our goals do the talking," said Bacca. "In the opening minutes we pressed them well and found the goal that gave us the victory."
Rayo sent on attacking players but never went closer than substitute Manucho's header over the bar with five minutes left.
Sevilla finished with 10 men after defender Daniel Carrico was sent off in the 88th.
Sevilla opened a five-point gap over Valencia in their fight for Spain's final Champions League spot before Valencia visited Granada later.
Rayo was left in 10th place ahead of Eibar in 11th and Espanyol in 12th.
Also later, Real Sociedad visited Villarreal.
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