<p>A first-half hat-trick by Lionel Messi ensured Barcelona maintained their 100 per cent start to the La Liga season with a thrilling 3-2 win over Valencia as Real Madrid also made it three wins from three games. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Messi had looked far from his best in Barca’s Super Cup victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek, but looked more like his old self as he put Barca 2-0 up inside 39 minutes and was then brilliantly set up by Neymar to complete his hat-trick.<br /><br />However, Valencia were amazingly back in the game by half-time as Helder Postiga struck twice in first-half stoppage time. <br /><br />Barca then passed up a host of chances to put the game to bed in the second-half and were nearly punished when Jonas struck the post four minutes from time.<br /><br />Neymar had already had a goal ruled out for offside when Cesc Fabregas sprung Valencia’s high line with a fine through ball on 10 minutes and Messi evaded challenge from Adil Rami and Diego Alves to bundle home from close range. <br /><br />Victor Valdes was then forced into a fine save to deny Dorlan Pabon levelling on his debut for Los Che. <br /><br />But just when it appeared Valencia were in control of the game, Barca struck twice in two minutes. <br /><br />Firstly, Sergio Busquets robbed the ball in midfield to allow Fabregas to set Messi free again to roll into the far corner. <br /><br />And then a wonderful piece of individual skill from Neymar teed-up the Argentine to side foot home his 23rd hat-trick for the Catalans. <br /><br />Valencia responded wonderfully though and were back in the game before half-time thanks to Postiga’s double. The Portuguese firstly produced a stunning overhead kick to turn Joao Pereira’s cross into the top corner. <br /><br />Earlier, Real Madrid continued their unblemished start under new manager Carlo Ancelotti with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu. <br /><br />Isco was the hero for the hosts as he opened the scoring with a neat finish from Karim Benzema’s lofted pass.</p>
<p>A first-half hat-trick by Lionel Messi ensured Barcelona maintained their 100 per cent start to the La Liga season with a thrilling 3-2 win over Valencia as Real Madrid also made it three wins from three games. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Messi had looked far from his best in Barca’s Super Cup victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek, but looked more like his old self as he put Barca 2-0 up inside 39 minutes and was then brilliantly set up by Neymar to complete his hat-trick.<br /><br />However, Valencia were amazingly back in the game by half-time as Helder Postiga struck twice in first-half stoppage time. <br /><br />Barca then passed up a host of chances to put the game to bed in the second-half and were nearly punished when Jonas struck the post four minutes from time.<br /><br />Neymar had already had a goal ruled out for offside when Cesc Fabregas sprung Valencia’s high line with a fine through ball on 10 minutes and Messi evaded challenge from Adil Rami and Diego Alves to bundle home from close range. <br /><br />Victor Valdes was then forced into a fine save to deny Dorlan Pabon levelling on his debut for Los Che. <br /><br />But just when it appeared Valencia were in control of the game, Barca struck twice in two minutes. <br /><br />Firstly, Sergio Busquets robbed the ball in midfield to allow Fabregas to set Messi free again to roll into the far corner. <br /><br />And then a wonderful piece of individual skill from Neymar teed-up the Argentine to side foot home his 23rd hat-trick for the Catalans. <br /><br />Valencia responded wonderfully though and were back in the game before half-time thanks to Postiga’s double. The Portuguese firstly produced a stunning overhead kick to turn Joao Pereira’s cross into the top corner. <br /><br />Earlier, Real Madrid continued their unblemished start under new manager Carlo Ancelotti with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu. <br /><br />Isco was the hero for the hosts as he opened the scoring with a neat finish from Karim Benzema’s lofted pass.</p>