VIDEO Barcelona 5-1 Espanyol Highlights, Goals: Messi Hat Trick Saves Catalans In Derby

Held scoreless for most of the first half, Barcelona staged a comeback behind Lionel Messi's hat trick and silenced Espanyol with a 5-1 victory Sunday at Nou Camp. It was the 21st hat trick in Messi's career, and the three points allows the Catalans to apply more pressure to first-place Real Madrid on La Liga table. Los Periquitos remain in 12th place, but missed an opportunity after silencing Alaves in the Copa del Rey earlier in the week.