Messi treble saves Barcelona

Ruud awakening
If both sides at Camp Nou were under pressure they did not show it in a blistering first 30 minutes which saw Madrid twice take the lead the lead through Ruud van Nistelrooy - a a composed curling shot from the edge of the box, and a penalty - only for the Spanish champions to equalise twice through Messi, the latter following a neat move involving Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.

Messi treble
The game turned in Madrid's favour just before half-time when Oleguer Presas was sent off, and their dominance after the interval told when Sergio Ramos headed in with 18 minutes remaining. But Barça provided one final push and were rewarded in added time when Messi drilled a shot past Iker Casillas to complete his hat-trick. Frank Rijkaard's side return to the top of the league, five points clear of Madrid, but co-leaders Sevilla FC can break away with a win against CG Tarragona on Sunday.

Forlán opener
Earlier in the day, goals from strikers Diego Forlán and Jon Dahl Tomasson handed Villarreal CF a 2-0 win at struggling Levante UD. Forlán put Villarreal in front after nine minutes when he curled a superb right-footed shot around goalkeeper José Molina and the visitors secured victory through Tomasson, who fired past Molina 17 minutes from time. Villarreal's fourth away win of the season pushed them up to eleventh place while Levante are now two points above the relegation zone.