Watch: Lionel Messi records first hat trick of season
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi recorded his first trick since March with three goals against Granada on Saturday.
The first came in the eighth minute, as Messi dribbled through a cast of defenders before spraying the ball wide to Arda Turan. The Turk then registered his first assist of the season with his new club as Messi provided a little touch past the goalkeeper.
The second was yet another example of the lethal interplay between Messi and his attack partners Luis Suarez and Neymar. Neymar started the move with a pass to Suarez, Suarez one-touched it to Messi, and Messi touched it over the line with the goalkeeper stranded.
The third was the most opportunistic of all, as Messi pounced on a rebound after Neymar hit the post.
Neymar would later add a fourth for Barcelona, breaking a particularly impressive streak to start the year for Messi. Until Neymar scored, Messi has either scored or assisted on Barcelona's first seven goals of 2016.
