Messi ends four-game goal drought with first half hat-trick

Messi ends four-game goal drought with first half hat-trick

Messi celebra el 1-0 ante el Eibar con sus compañeros
Messi celebra el 1-0 ante el Eibar con sus compañeros | JAVI FERRÁNDIZ

The Argentine returned to goal scoring form for Barcelona against Eibar

Lionel Messi's mini goal drought in La Liga ended on Saturday when he scored a first-half hat-trick against Eibar at Camp Nou. 

Messi had failed to net in the league since Jan. 19, when he scored the winner for Barça in Quique Setien's first game in charge of the club. 

Since then, he had set up a number of goals, and had over 30 shots, but had not scored... until Saturday. 

In the 13th minute of the game against Eibar, he opened the scoring, ending a run of 398 minutes without a goal in Spain's top flight. 

The goal was one of beauty, too, as he nutmegged Arbilla before chipping goalkeeper Dmitrovic. 

Messi then added his second, calmly finishing after good work from Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal to double Barça's lead. 

He completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute, rolling home after Antoine Griezmann had missed a good chance to add his name to the score sheet.   

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