A glorious Messi hat-trick seals yet another Barca win

As expected, Valverde's Barcelona went into this match the favourites with the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Spanish league table to 10 points ahead of Atletico Madrid. Despite beating Barcelona earlier in the season, Real Betis had suffered a slight downturn in form in the lead up to this clash, sitting eighth in the table.

It was the home side who started the match with more conviction in front of a lively crowd at the Benito Villamarin Stadium. Although as we know well, you can never underestimate Barcelona's, more specifically Lionel Messi's skill and it didn't take the Argentine long to show just why he is one of the world's best.

Barcelona were awarded a free-kick which Messi unsurprisingly stepped up to take. What happened next had even the home fans on their feet as he produced a brilliant, mind-blowing free-kick effort which no goalkeeper could ever stop, despite Messi daring to place it on Lopez side of the goal. He backed his own skill which would come back to haunt Real Betis later on in the game.

Messi's world class goal didn't quite dampen Betis' spirits who managed to register a few threatening chances on Ter Stegen's goal. However, despite dominating possession, Betis were largely unable to challenge for the equaliser and it was Messi's second just moments before half-time that did the damage.

Luis Suarez has to be admired for his assist with a daring, blind back-heel to put Messi through for a fairly routine tap in. Exactly what Barca needed before the break in order to march on with momentum, while the late goal absolutely drowned Betis' spirit who went into the break looking deflated.

The second-half was all Barca as Luis Suarez settled into his groove to register a number of close chances in quick succession. Once ... twice ... third time lucky and he was able to clinch Barca's third with a delicious display of skill to dance through the Betis defence and slot it past a helpless Lopez.

Real Betis would need a miraculous comeback which might have gathered some force had Loren's goal come slightly earlier. Betis fans still rejoiced at the fabulous finish but with just 10 minutes of regulation time to go, it was just a consolation for Betis' hard work in the first-half.

In true Barcelona style, they didn't allow Betis much time to celebrate before Messi claimed yet another La Liga hat-trick. He fancied his chances from just inches outside the area and immobilised Pau Lopez with a mesmerising chip. At this point, even the Betis fans were bowing down to one of football's living legends.

The game was up but Messi wasn't quite finished as he came millimetres away from scoring Barca's fifth, and his fourth, of the game. He found the ball at his feet in the box after some frantic attempts to clear in defence but his effort struck the post and pinged back out for Betis to finally hoof clear.

Quite fittingly, that would be the final action of the evening as Barcelona head back up to northern Spain with yet another La Liga win under their belts. Real Betis can be proud of their performance for the most part but they just weren't up to Barcelona's calibre this evening and they register another loss.