Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick of the highest quality as Barcelona avenged their defeat by Real Betis earlier in the season to move 10 points clear at the top of La Liga.

The Barcelona captain was in superb form scoring his 51st hat-trick with the first goal being a 20-yard free-kick before he converted Luis Suarez's backheel pass with a toe-poked strike.

Suarez scored a fine individual effort while Loren Moron grabbed Betis' only goal with a superb finish.

Messi, however, was applauded by Real Betis fans after scoring a brilliant third goal and thanked the opposition supporters for the kind gesture.

“I don’t remember being applauded by rival fans for a goal before. I am very grateful for the response of the supporters,” Messi said.

“I don’t know, I was lucky that both of them went in but above all we got the three points. We knew that we had a good opportunity to put a little distance between ourselves and Atlético and we couldn’t fail.”

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The Betis fans just had to applaud it.....<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> <a href="https://t.co/tMVEeIKdkd">pic.twitter.com/tMVEeIKdkd</a>
— Craig (@Craig_m93) <a href="https://twitter.com/Craig_m93/status/1107400250229166081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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It was yet another sensational performance from the GOAT, as it was a club-record 477th win in a Barcelona shirt.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick of the highest quality as Barcelona avenged their defeat by Real Betis earlier in the season to move 10 points clear at the top of La Liga.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick of the highest quality as Barcelona avenged their defeat by Real Betis earlier in the season to move 10 points clear at the top of La Liga. The Barcelona captain was in superb form scoring his 51st hat-trick with the first goal being a 20-yard free-kick before he converted Luis Suarez's backheel pass with a toe-poked strike. Suarez scored a fine individual effort while Loren Moron grabbed Betis' only goal with a superb finish. Messi, however, was applauded by Real Betis fans after scoring a brilliant third goal and thanked the opposition supporters for the kind gesture. “I don’t remember being applauded by rival fans for a goal before. I am very grateful for the response of the supporters,” Messi said. “I don’t know, I was lucky that both of them went in but above all we got the three points. We knew that we had a good opportunity to put a little distance between ourselves and Atlético and we couldn’t fail.” The Betis fans just had to applaud it.....#Messi pic.twitter.com/tMVEeIKdkd — Craig (@Craig_m93) March 17, 2019 × It was yet another sensational performance from the GOAT, as it was a club-record 477th win in a Barcelona shirt.

Lionel Messi's hat-trick earns standing ovation from Betis fans, Barca captain says 'very grateful'

Barcelona defender Gerard&nbsp;Pique&nbsp;admitted his side have a problem with their porous defence after the La Liga leaders were beaten 4-3 at home by Real Betis on Sunday, conceding four times at the Nou Camp for the first time in over 15 years.

Yet the Spanish international, while conceding that all their defenders all needed to improve, was also adamant that the champions' fans should not be worried about the current frailties of the team's rearguard.

Barca trailed 2-0 at halftime and even though Lionel Messi struck twice on his return from injury and Arturo Vidal also scored for the Catalans, Betis became the first side to beat Barca at the Nou Camp since Alaves in September 2016.

"We know we have a problem and that we are conceding a lot of goals, more than we have conceded for a very long time,"&nbsp;Pique&nbsp;told reporters.

"We will almost never be the team that concedes the fewest goals because of our attacking philosophy, but we know we have to improve."

Despite Sunday's defeat, Barca still lead the standings and are one point clear of Atletico Madrid, Alaves and Sevilla, although they have by far the worst defensive record of the top seven teams in the league.

Barca have let in 18 goals in 12 league games, more than 13 teams in La Liga.

"It's not an individual thing, it's a group problem. We have to focus on it and work together,"&nbsp;Pique&nbsp;said.

"It's basic stuff which we know and we have talked about. Today, we faced a very attacking team and we had to take risks.

"I think that, defensively, we all need to improve. Sometimes, we go to press and we don't all go and that leaves a lot of gaps between the lines and teams create a lot of counter-attacks against us.

"Today, for example, we should have stopped their first goal by committing a foul."

Barca have dropped points in five of their 12 games this season, four times against sides in the bottom half of the standings but&nbsp;Pique&nbsp;said fans should not be concerned by the team's form.

"It's true that we are finding it harder to beat teams who, in theory, are smaller than us but I think it's something sporadic and won't happen throughout the season," he said.

"Our fans can relax, we are top of the league. This year, the level of our opponents has risen, you can no longer win the league with 100 points.

"Teams have bigger budgets, better players and they are more competitive and that's better for spectators."

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admitted his side have a problem with their porous defence after the La Liga leaders were beaten 4-3 at home by Real Betis on Sunday, conceding four times at the Nou Camp for the first time in over 15 years.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admitted his side have a problem with their porous defence after the La Liga leaders were beaten 4-3 at home by Real Betis on Sunday, conceding four times at the Nou Camp for the first time in over 15 years. Yet the Spanish international, while conceding that all their defenders all needed to improve, was also adamant that the champions' fans should not be worried about the current frailties of the team's rearguard. Barca trailed 2-0 at halftime and even though Lionel Messi struck twice on his return from injury and Arturo Vidal also scored for the Catalans, Betis became the first side to beat Barca at the Nou Camp since Alaves in September 2016. "We know we have a problem and that we are conceding a lot of goals, more than we have conceded for a very long time," Pique told reporters. "We will almost never be the team that concedes the fewest goals because of our attacking philosophy, but we know we have to improve." Despite Sunday's defeat, Barca still lead the standings and are one point clear of Atletico Madrid, Alaves and Sevilla, although they have by far the worst defensive record of the top seven teams in the league. Barca have let in 18 goals in 12 league games, more than 13 teams in La Liga. "It's not an individual thing, it's a group problem. We have to focus on it and work together," Pique said. "It's basic stuff which we know and we have talked about. Today, we faced a very attacking team and we had to take risks. "I think that, defensively, we all need to improve. Sometimes, we go to press and we don't all go and that leaves a lot of gaps between the lines and teams create a lot of counter-attacks against us. "Today, for example, we should have stopped their first goal by committing a foul." Barca have dropped points in five of their 12 games this season, four times against sides in the bottom half of the standings but Pique said fans should not be concerned by the team's form. "It's true that we are finding it harder to beat teams who, in theory, are smaller than us but I think it's something sporadic and won't happen throughout the season," he said. "Our fans can relax, we are top of the league. This year, the level of our opponents has risen, you can no longer win the league with 100 points. "Teams have bigger budgets, better players and they are more competitive and that's better for spectators."

Pique admits Barcelona have defence problems after Betis shock

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