Barcelona returned to the top of the table after thumping Rayo Vallecano yesterday. Lionel Messi scored a record-breaking 24th Primera Division hat-trick and Luis Suarez hit a brace as Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano 6-1.

The Uruguayan got the ball rolling with an early goal and Gerard Pique doubled the lead shortly after the break, before Messi scored a treble inside 12 minutes which took him one hat-trick clear of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Both sides had their right-backs sent off, with Tito getting two yellow cards for Rayo and Dani Alves getting a straight red for bringing down Alberto Bueno, who scored a consolation goal for the visitors, only for Suarez to pounce again in stoppage-time.

"We've won the right to be where we are in the league," declared Barca coach Luis Enrique.

"The objective is to be on top when the competition is over. I've always said that the big teams will get beaten and this will continue to happen, we all need to be on our toes. We have won the right to be where we are now."