Happy days: Messi is hugged by Alexis Sanchez after netting against Getafe (Picture: EPA)
Happy days: Messi is hugged by Alexis Sanchez after netting against Getafe (Picture: EPA)

Lionel Messi scored for the 13th La Liga game in succession as Barcelona thrashed Getafe 6-1 in the Sunday lunch-time kick-off at the Nou Camp.

The Argentine superstar made it an incredible 46 strikes for the season when he clipped home on 13 minutes for the hosts’ second goal.

It means he is now just one goal away from a landmark 300 tally for the La Liga table toppers.

It capped a good week for the 25-year-old, who signed a two-year contract extension which will take him up to 2018.

Messi, who now has a La Liga-leading 35 goals in 23 games this season, should have had another but he struck a post with a fierce volley from a a cross from Alexis Sanchez.

But the real star of the show was the man who helped create his strike, Andres Iniesta, who also added a goal in injury time. Sanchez, David Villa, Cristian Tello and Gerard Pique also hit the mark for the Catalan giants.

It was the first time Barcelona have played in a mid-day kick-off since the new time was brought in at the beginning of last season. The last time they played so early at the Nou Camp was on Christmas Day 1965, when they beat Las Palmas 3-2. 

The victory saw Barca increase their lead to 12 points over Atletico Madrid, who visit Rayo Vallecano later in a Spanish capital derby.
And it leaves defending champions Real Madrid 16 points adrift of their arch rivals.