• Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Getafe at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Thursday, April 22 , 2021. EPA
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Getafe at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Thursday, April 22 , 2021. EPA
  • Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Lionel Messi. Reuters
    Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Lionel Messi. Reuters
  • Lionel Messi scored twice against Getafe at Camp Nou. Getty
    Lionel Messi scored twice against Getafe at Camp Nou. Getty
  • Getafe's midfielder Takefusa Kubo against Sergi Roberto at Camp Nou. EPA
    Getafe's midfielder Takefusa Kubo against Sergi Roberto at Camp Nou. EPA
  • Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, left, scores from the penalty spot. AP
    Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, left, scores from the penalty spot. AP
  • Lionel Messi scores his second goal of the night on Thursday. Getty
    Lionel Messi scores his second goal of the night on Thursday. Getty
  • Getafe's goalkeeper David Soria fails to stop Barcelona's second goal. AP
    Getafe's goalkeeper David Soria fails to stop Barcelona's second goal. AP
  • Players of Getafe celebrate their first goal after Clement Lenglet of Barcelona scored an own goal. Getty
    Players of Getafe celebrate their first goal after Clement Lenglet of Barcelona scored an own goal. Getty
  • Getafe players are seen wearing a t-shirt with a message against the European Super League before the match against Barcelona. Reuters
    Getafe players are seen wearing a t-shirt with a message against the European Super League before the match against Barcelona. Reuters

Lionel Messi gives up hat-trick chance as Barcelona defeat Getafe - in pictures


  • English
  • Arabic

Lionel Messi gave up the chance for a hat-trick on Thursday as Barcelona held off a late fightback from Getafe to win 5-2.

Messi scored twice and could have had a third in injury-time at Camp Nou but deferred a penalty to Antoine Griezmann, who completed what was in the end a comfortable victory.

"He's the best in the world, he never lets up," said manager Ronald Koeman.

"If he lowers his concentration you never notice. Hopefully he stays for many more years."

After beating Athletic Bilbao to lift the Copa del Rey last weekend, Barca are now in the hunt for the double, sitting five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid in the league but still with a game in hand.

Atletico had earlier brushed aside Huesca 2-0 to register back-to-back victories for the first time since January and with Real Madrid also seeing off Cadiz on Wednesday, there is no margin for error now in a thrilling battle for the title.

None of Spain's leading trio appear to have been affected by an incredible few days off the pitch, which saw Real Madrid, Atletico and Barcelona all sign up for the hugely controversial European Super League on Sunday.

Atletico withdrew from the breakaway competition on Wednesday but Barca and and Real Madrid remain part of a project that would transform the fabric of European football.

Getafe were wearing t-shirts in protest against the European Super League, even as they gave Barcelona a guard of honour to mark the Catalans' cup success.

Messi now has 33 goals in all competitions and 25 in the league, one more than the total scored by the whole Getafe team.

Getafe are not safe yet, four points the gap above the bottom three.