Lionel Messi hit four goals for leaders Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat trick for Real Madrid on Sunday.

Messi took his league tally in 21 games this season to an incredible 33, and to 202 overall, in Barcelona's 5-1 win at home to 10-man Osasuna while Ronaldo passed 300 club goals and now has 21 this term as Real thumped Getafe 4-0 at the Bernabeu.

Messi became the first player to score in 11 consecutive La Liga matches.

It only took 11 minutes for Messi to open the scoring and claim another record.

A long through pass was cleared by Andres Fernandez only as far as Xavi Hernandez, who found the Argentinian in the area, Messi then produced a beautiful dummy to take him past the keeper before tapping home.

Raoul Loe leveled the game on 24 minutes against the run of play, but the side from Pamplona were left with 10 men three minutes later when Alejandro Arribas saw a second yellow card after a shot struck his hand in the area.

Messi coolly slotted away the penalty for his second and Pedro Rodriguez made it three before halftime after a generous pass from Dani Alves left him with a tap in from close range.

The Argentinian got his hat trick on 56 minutes when he started a move in midfield, exchanged passes with David Villa, and took the ball around the keeper before slotting home.

And a minute later it was five as he finished off a swift Barcelona attack and Adriano pass from close range.

All Real's goals came in a much-improved second-half performance in the derby against Getafe.

Sergio Ramos got the first before Ronaldo hit three in 10 minutes, his first on 62 minutes after a sweeping counterattack saw Mesut Ozil play the Portuguese star into space on the left for a crisp finish.

Three minutes later he finished off a Gonzalo Higuain cross with a simple header and completed his hat trick from the penalty spot after Alberto Lopo had fouled Luka Modric.

Meanwhile second-placed Atletico Madrid lost 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico's defeat means Barcelona stretch the lead to 11 points at the top while Real are now only four behind their city rivals in third place.

AFP - Global Times