Messi has now scored 19 goals in 16 La Liga appearances against Levante
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and created another two goals as Barcelona thrashed 10-man Levante to regain a three-point lead at the top of La Liga.
The champions were joined at the top by Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, who both claimed victories this weekend.
But Messi stole the show once he crossed for Luis Suarez's opener.
The Argentine converted two clinical finishes and popped home from close range, as well cutting the ball back for Gerard Pique's late fifth.
Levante had defender Erick Cabaco sent off with 14 minutes to go for a straight red card after he recklessly lunged in on French winger Ousmane Dembele.
The hosts started brightly with striker Emmanuel Boateng smashing a shot against the crossbar and the Ghanaian also came close with a low, drilled effort towards the near post which Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to stoop to keep out, before Messi's intervention.
- Relive Barcelona's win over Levante
Magical Messi
Barca achieved a stylish revenge after last season's agonising 5-4 loss against Levante ended their chances of going the full season unbeaten in the penultimate game of the campaign.
Though they were second best in the early stages, there was no doubting the result once they broke the deadlock on 34 minutes.
Messi pounced on a loose ball as Levante looked to pass it out from the back and the chance looked to be gone when he was forced out wide, but a clever cross into the box allowed Suarez to side-foot home a first-time finish from 12 yards out.
Nine minutes later, Barca skipper Messi was played in on goal by Sergio Busquets' pass and the Argentine held off a defender to roll a finish into the far corner and then stroking home from the edge of the box for his second.
Messi completed his hat-trick with an easy finish from close range for his 50th goal for club and country in 2018 - and there was still time for defender Pique to start a move in his own box, before sprinting up the pitch to roll in from Messi's cutback.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Levante
13Olazábal
18CabacoBooked at 76mins
15PostigoSubstituted forPrcicat 70'minutes
4Suárez PierBooked at 25mins
23Remeseiro SalgueiroBooked at 59mins
16RochinaSubstituted forAndújar Morenoat 69'minutes
24Campaña
10Bardhi
3GarcÃa Aranda
21BoatengSubstituted forMayoralat 62'minutes
11Morales
Substitutes
2Mayoral
6RodrÃguez Benito
7Simon
8Prcic
9MartÃ
12Andújar Moreno
25Fernández
Barcelona
1ter Stegen
3Piqué
15Lenglet
24VermaelenSubstituted forRamos de Oliveira Meloat 52'minutes
11DembéléBooked at 18minsSubstituted forD Suárezat 81'minutes
4RakiticBooked at 36mins
5Busquets
22VidalSubstituted forCoutinhoat 78'minutes
18AlbaBooked at 45mins
9Suárez
10Messi
Substitutes
6D Suárez
7Coutinho
8Ramos de Oliveira Melo
13Cillessen
19El Haddadi
21Aleñá
27Miranda
Referee:
José Luis González González
Attendance:
23,736
Match Stats
Home TeamLevanteAway TeamBarcelona
Possession
Home43%
Away57%
Shots
Home20
Away16
Shots on Target
Home6
Away9
Corners
Home15
Away3
Fouls
Home12
Away9
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Levante 0, Barcelona 5.
Full TimePosted at 90'+2'
Second Half ends, Levante 0, Barcelona 5.
Posted at 90'+2'
Offside, Levante. Coke tries a through ball, but Borja Mayoral is caught offside.
Posted at 90'+2'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Coutinho.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Sanjin Prcic (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Rober Pier.
Goal!Posted at 88'
Goal! Levante 0, Barcelona 5. Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Sanjin Prcic (Levante) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 86'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Clément Lenglet.
Posted at 86'
Attempt saved. Denis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Posted at 83'
Offside, Barcelona. Coutinho tries a through ball, but Luis Suárez is caught offside.
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Jason (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Posted at 82'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Borja Mayoral (Levante) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Coke.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Barcelona. Denis Suárez replaces Ousmane Dembélé.
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. Sanjin Prcic (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rober Pier.
Posted at 78'
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Barcelona. Coutinho replaces Arturo Vidal.
Posted at 78'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 77'
Delay in match Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) because of an injury.
DismissalPosted at 76'
Erick Cabaco (Levante) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Posted at 76'
Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Erick Cabaco (Levante).
Posted at 76'
Attempt missed. José Campaña (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Sanjin Prcic (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Posted at 75'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Enis Bardhi (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Posted at 72'
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by José Campaña.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Levante. Sanjin Prcic replaces Sergio Postigo.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Levante. Coke replaces Rubén Rochina.
Posted at 69'
Attempt saved. Arthur (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Posted at 66'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Luis Suárez.
Posted at 66'
Attempt blocked. Erick Cabaco (Levante) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by José Campaña with a cross.
Posted at 66'
Corner, Levante. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
Posted at 65'
Offside, Barcelona. Arturo Vidal tries a through ball, but Luis Suárez is caught offside.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Jordi Alba (Barcelona).
Posted at 65'
Jason (Levante) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 65'
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Source: bbc.com