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Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona. Spanish La Liga.

Campo de Futbol de VallecasAttendance13,775.

Rayo Vallecano 1

  • D Llorente (sent off 42nd minute)
  • Manucho (57th minute)
  • M Iturra (sent off 67th minute)

Barcelona 5

  • I Rakitic (22nd minute)
  • L Messi (23rd minute, 53rd minute, 72nd minute)
  • A Turan (86th minute)

Rayo Vallecano 1-5 Barcelona: Lionel Messi nets hat-trick in record-breaking win

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Highlights of Barcelona's record breaking win over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona claimed a 5-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano on Thursday night to become the first Spanish team in history to go 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Ivan Rakitic (22) set Barca on their way to victory, capitalising on an error from Rayo goalkeeper Juan Carlos, before Lionel Messi (23) doubled their advantage. 

Rayo were reduced to 10-men shortly before the break after Diego Llorente was a shown a straight red card for his challenge on Rakitic and Barca made their extra man count with Messi (53, 72) completing his hat-trick with strikes either side of a Manucho (57) consolation. 

Manuel Iturra also saw red for Rayo and Luis Suarez missed a penalty before Arda Turan (86) wrapped up the scoring with his first goal for Barca. 

Ivan Rakitic
Image: Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring for Barcelona

Victory ensured Barca stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points, while Rayo drop a place to 17th after suffering their first league defeat in seven games. 

Luis Enrique's side have not tasted defeat in the league since October 3, when they suffered a 2-1 loss away at Sevilla. 

Barca's unbeaten run in numbers
Barca's unbeaten run in numbers

The remarkable numbers behind Barca's unbeaten streak

Barca initially struggled to get into their stride at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, with Rayo coming closest during the opening exchanges, but Ardi Embarba was denied by a fine save from Barca goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. 

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However, the home side failed to build on their bright start and gifted Barca the opener with Carlos dropping a routine cross at the feet of Rakitic, who made no mistake by sweeping the ball into an empty net. 

Barca increased their advantage just two minutes later, Messi firing past Carlos after exchanging passes with Neymar. 

 Manuel Rolando Iturra
Image: Rayo were reduced to nine men after Diego Llorente and Manuel Iturra saw red

It got worse for Rayo shortly before the break after Llorente received his marching orders, despite appearing to win the ball first in a challenge with Rakitic.

After the interval, Messi piled further punishment on Rayo, following up to score after Suarez had seen his effort cannon back off the post. 

Rayo grabbed a goal back through former Manchester United forward Manucho, but any hope of an unlikely comeback was extinguished when Iturra was shown a straight red card for hauling back Sergio Busquets in front of goal. 

Though Suarez saw his penalty stopped superbly by Carlos, Messi completed his hat-trick soon after when he slotted past the advancing Rayo goalkeeper. 

Substitute Turan rounded off a perfect evening for Barcelona and Enrique by scoring his first goal for the club, heading Jeremy Mathieu's cross into the top corner. 

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