Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is continuing his roaring form with the ball for his team. The Argentine soccer legend has netted an incredible four times paving way for it unassailable win. Equally elegant on the other hand was Real Madrid’s price pick Cristiano Ronaldo who reached the landmark of 300 goals in an indomitable style.
The two Spanish sides got into the act for their midweek King's Cup semi-final fixture with scintillating La Liga winners on Sunday.
Messi ensured his league tally in 21 games the current season reach an incredible 33, and to 202 overall, in Barca's 5-1 victory at home to 10-man Osasuna while Ronaldo surpassed 300 club goals and now has now netted 21 this time around as Real sailed past Getafe 4-0 at the Bernabeu.
Barca's return to superb form after last weekend's 3-2 reverse at Real Sociedad, their first loss of the tournament, enabled them 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid who lost 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao.
Defending champions Real, whose expectations of a second straight victory are entirely over with 17 matches to go, are now just four points behind Atletico in third spot.
Malaga claimed back Espanol's fourth Champions League qualification berth from Andalusian competitors Real Betis when the Qatar-owned club breezed past through the second-half ouster of Martin Demichelis to win 3-2 at limping Real Mallorca.
Malaga constitutes 35 points, eight behind Real, and lead Betis on goal variation. Rayo Vallecano ensured to defy their average status and are a point behind Betis in sixth place after they overcome the Seville-based side 3-0.
World Player of the Year Messi emerged as the first player to score on 11 continuous La Liga matchdays and, at 25, the youngest to score 200 league goals.
The Argentine scored additional goals on his own than all the other La Liga sides excluding Real and Atletico and is on way to break the record for the most in a season (50) he set last term.
The Barca striker began scoring in the 11th minute at the Nou Camp when he was sent clear in the penalty region by a precise Xavi pass.
Messi smartly waited for Osasuna goalie Andres Fernandez to go down before working the ball into the net.
The visitors were already third from bottom on 18 points, scored in the 24th minute through midfielder Raoul Loe but their chances of causing an upset were ended when Alejandro Arribas was shown a second yellow card three minutes after.
It was a perfect match during which everything went Barca’s way with just few exceptions as Messi was out there to score.
Messi, who also headed against the post in the first half, completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute and grabbed a fourth goal two minutes later.
"The important thing was to get through the match because when so much is being said about the 'Clasico' (against Real) it's not easy," Messi told reporters.
"We came out the same way as always and we achieved our goal."
