La Liga: Lionel Messi scores hat-trick; helps Barcelona thrash Levante

Argentina captain Lionel Messi fired his 23rd hat trick on his 300th La Liga appearance as he helped Barcelona, thrash Levante 5-0 on Sunday.

Barca have maintained their one-point gap behind current leaders Real Madrid, who beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 on Saturday.  

Neymar put Barca in the lead with an effort that spun in off his foot, before Messi drilled in before half-time to double the club's lead, the BBC reported. 

The Argentine then tapped home his second goal to take Barca's lead over Levante to 3-0, before he made it 4-0 from the spot. Luis Suarez scored the goal of the game when he acrobatically volleyed in.

It was a stunning finish by the substitute that mirrored the excellent performance by Barca, who have now won their last 11 games in all competitions, equalling the streak in 2008-09 under then coach Pep Guardiola.

Barca coach Luis Enrique said that records are 'obviously positive', but they don't 'interest him', adding that the players aren't 'overly euphoric' because they know 'how hard it is to win titles'.

Enrique said fans need to be 'optimistic', but insisted that 'it isn't important how many games they have won'. He said that what counts is if they help them to win trophies.