(CNN)  -- Lionel Messi grabbed a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona routed Tenerife 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their two-point advantage at the top in the Spain's La Liga over arch rivals Real Madrid. Barca, who went into the late kickoff temporarily trailing Real, who had won 2-0 at home to Real Mallorca, made a slow start and might have been behind. Alejandro Alfaro had three good chances to put the hosts ahead but the Tenerife striker hit the crossbar on was denied twice by goalkeeper Victor Valdes. They were made to pay as World Player of the Year Messi scored the opener in the 36th minute after getting a pass from Bojan Krkic inside the area.
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Lionel Messi scores a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-0 win over Tenerife
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Emphatic victory keeps Barca two points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid
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Real beat Real Mallorca 2-0 in earlier game with Gonzalo Higiuan and Esteban Granero scoring
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A match at the Bernabeu is played in snow for the first time in 30 years
Real Madrid were totally dominant against a @placeholder side who had exceeded expectations to occupy fourth place in the Primera Liga going into the match.