Liga BBVA Update - Barcelona 5 Deportivo 4

1st placed Barcelona played against mid-table Deportivo last night.

With title rivals Real Madrid having beaten Celta by 2 goals to nil, Barca had to respond well.

Full-back Jordi Alba, young striker Christian Tello and Lionel Messi all scored for Barca in the first 18 minutes.

Thank you: Full-back Jordi Alba celebrates his opener against Deportivo

Magic Messi: Lionel Messi celebrates his 1st goal of the night with Cesc Fabregas.

Pizzi scored for Deportivo to make it 3-1 in the 20th minute from the penalty spot.

In the 37th minute, Deportivo scored again thanks to Bergantinos, before Messi made it 4-2 in the 43rd minute.

Best in the world: Lionel Messi scores his second to make it 4-2 just before half-time.

In the 47th minute, Pizzi scored his second of the night, before defensive midfelder Javier Mascherano was given a second yellow card of the match, and consquently sent off. 

Messi capped off his 21st hat-trick for Barca in the 77th minute, before Alba scored an own goal to make the score 5-4.

Brilliance: Messi chips the goalkeeper to score his 3rd of the night against Deportivo.

Barca are still 1st, with 22 points out of a possible 24.

Real Madrid are in 4th place, 8 points BEHIND the Liga BBVA leaders.

Here is the full Liga BBVA Table:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/tables?filter=competition-119001074