Messi's hat-trick puts Barcelona on top

Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick as champions Barcelona nudged Real Madrid off the summit crushing Tenerife 5-0 on their own patch on Sunday for their first victory of 2010.

Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick as champions Barcelona nudged Real Madrid off the summit crushing Tenerife 5-0 on their own patch on Sunday for their first victory of 2010.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates his goal during the La Liga football match against Tenerife played in the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife yesterday. PIC/AFP

Barca scored three times in a destructive nine minutes with Ballon D'Or winner Messi scoring two of them (36, 45) before clinching his hat-trick with a nonchalant curler late in the second half to join Valencia's David Villa on 12 goals at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Real Madrid had leapfrogged Barca with a 2-0 home win over Real Mallorca earlier yesterday but Pep Guardiola's side responded to move back to the summit two points ahead of Real. Barcelona's next challenge is at Sevilla in the second leg of the last 16 Kings Cup tie in which they trail 2-1 from the first leg.

AC Milan rout Juventus
Defensive horror shows at three corners saw AC Milan humiliate Juventus 3-0 at Turin's Stadio Olimpico and all but end their rivals' Serie A title hopes and leave coach Ciro Ferrara's job on the line. The victory meant Milan moved to within eight points of leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand.