MADRID, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi maintained his impressive scoring run by notching a hat-trick in Barcelona’s record 8-0 rout at Almeria in the Spanish League yesterday.

Messi became only the fourth Barcelona scorer to go over 100 Spanish League goals after starting the triumph with his 17th-minute opener.

He added another in the 37th before pouncing on a loose ball in the 67th for his league-leading 13th goal, and 14th goal in eight games in all competitions.

Substitute Bojan Krkic scored twice, while Andres Iniesta and Pedro Rodriguez also netted for the Spanish champions. Santiago Acasiete added an own goal as Barcelona matched their — and the league’s — best ever away-win from 51 years ago.

Barcelona put pressure on Real Madrid to beat Athletic Bilbao in yesterday’s late game to stay top of the standings going into their “clasico” match on November 29.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola left Gerard Pique on the bench with the Spain defender a yellow card away from suspension ahead of the Madrid match.

But it hardly mattered as Barcelona’s offence pulverised their 18th-place opponents. Messi capped a well-worked combination with David Villa by firing past goalkeeper Diego Alves for the opener.

Iniesta jumped on an Almeria defensive error to fire past Diego Alves into the roof of goal two minutes later before Acasiete poked Maxwell’s pass home in the 27th.

Pedro beat Diego Alves to a long ball to fire into an open goal in the 35th. The Spain forward then found Messi darting into the box and although the Brazilian ‘keeper saved the right-footed shot, Messi hesitated long enough to receive the rebound and score with his left foot.

Bojan came in for Pedro and held off two defenders before flicking over Diego Alves in the 63rd to make it 6-0.

Messi’s easiest was his last after Diego Alves spilled the rebound from Villa’s hard shot for league goal No. 101 with the Catalan club.

Bojan capped the record rout — Almeria’s previous worst defeat was a 6-0 loss at Barcelona — after receiving from Messi in the 73rd. Barcelona matched its previous best away result — an 8-0 win at Las Palmas in 1959 — to tie the biggest league away win ever.

Earlier, Villarreal rallied for a 1-1 draw against Valencia to stay three points ahead in third place.