MADRID, Feb. 23 -- Leo Messi scored four goals as FC Barcelona won 5-0 at home to Eibar, while Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat away to Levante sees them knocked off the top of the table just a week before the entertain Barca in the second 'Clasico' of the season.

Messi hadn't scored in four games, but needed just 40 minutes to score a hat-trick in side's 5-0 win at home to Eibar.

The game began after a seven minute delay due to a problem with the VAR and that was good news for Barca after Eibar's Sergi Enrich had a goal ruled out for offside in the opening minutes of the game

Messi opened the scoring with a typical goal after 15 minutes and a second run and left foot shot gave him his second in the 37th minute, three minutes before he swept home his third after Antoine Griezmann had a shot saved.

The last two goals both began at the feet of new arrival Martin Braithwaite, who crossed for Messi to net his fourth and then saw a shot saved for Arthur to finish the scoring in the last minute.

While Barca cruised to victory, Real Madrid slipped to defeat, despite creating enough chances to have won away to Levante only to be denied by some poor finishing and fine keeping by Levante keeper Aitor Fernandez.

Eden Hazard limped off in the 67th minute and will be a doubt for next week's big games against Manchester City and Barca, and 12 minutes later Jose Luis Morales scored the only goal of the game with an unstoppable half-volley from a narrow angle.

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