Another Lionel Messi hat-trick at Sevilla maintained Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga, but don’t let the 4-2 scoreline fool you, there are issues that must be addressed as they prepare to play Real Madrid twice in a week... Messi proved uncontainable once more in Barcelona’s win on Saturday, scoring his 50th hat-trick for the club and taking his tally to 36 goals in 35 games against Sevilla. The victory ensured Barcelona remain seven points clear at the top of La Liga ahead of a key week for Ernesto Valverde’s side, who now travel to Madrid for a Clasico double header – first in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Wednesday, before a league encounter on Saturday evening. After a difficult February, in which Barca laboured to four draws and a 1-0 win at home to Real Vallodolid before Saturday, the victory at Sevilla looks, on the surface, like a well-timed, morale-boosting performance. But in reality, Messi’s hat-trick poured a bucket of gloss over Barca’s display, and they can ill-afford a repeat showing as they head to the capital. Messi, by all accounts, had an off-day at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with one of his many misplaced passes leading to Sevilla’s opening goal. But crucially, four magical touches made the difference; three in scoring a majestic hat-trick, and the final one to assist Luis Suarez. To produce such results during a largely underwhelming display will have reminded Real that Messi is one variable that cannot be controlled. It only takes one yard of space, and suddenly he has volleyed, curled or dinked in another goal to equalise or put Barcelona ahead. Messi’s ability to win a game single-handedly is no secret, and it could well come up trumps in Madrid once more as he looks to eclipse his own side’s defensive frailties, which were evident throughout at Sevilla. Barcelona trailed 2-1 at half-time because of their vulnerability when countered, and openness down both wings, and they could have been further behind had Sevilla been more clinical on the break.