Foreign: Leo Messi scores fifth hat-trick of season but Real stay five clear

Real Madrid quickly re-established their five-point cushion at the Primera Division summit last night posting a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao soon after hat-trick hero Lionel Messi had inspired Barcelona to a 4-1 win at Malaga.

Jose Mourinho’s side, beaten 2-1 by Barca in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, produced the perfect response tonight with a comeback win after Fernando Llorente’s early strike for in-form Athletic had threatened an upset. Marcelo got the leaders back on level terms after 25 minutes before two second-half penalties from Cristiano Ronaldo and a late goal from Jose Callejon completed the turnaround. Athletic played out the final 24 minutes with a man less after Oscar De Marcos was dismissed in the incident that led to Ronaldo’s second successful penalty.

Messi earlier netted his fifth treble of the season as Pep Guardiola’s champions cruised past Malaga. Victor Valdes made three fine saves to prevent Isco giving the hosts the lead early on, but Barca took control just after the half-hour mark as Messi gave Willy Caballero no chance with a powerful header from Adriano’s cross. And the visitors made sure of the three points with two quickfire goals early in the second half as Alexis Sanchez fired home from close range before Messi got his second of the day with a wonderful run and finish.

The Argentina forward sealed his hat-trick on 81 minutes as he again left the Malaga defence in his wake before slipping the ball past Caballero from a narrow angle. Salomon Rondon grabbed a consolation for the hosts.