Barcelona defender Gerard Pique hailed hat-trick hero Lionel Messi after their 5-1 win over Espanyol.

Pique also was on the scoresheet in the rout.

"There are no words to describe what Messi gives us," enthused Pique.

"We aren't very tall. And it is true that we have been able to score from close in, like the other day against Valencia, but today we were better.

"In the second half we were more organised and they had fewer counter attacks."

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