Unstoppable Barcelona break Real Madrid’s 34-game unbeaten record with defeat of Vallecano

Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring, Lionel Messi added the second, third and fourth, and Arda Turan topped the record-breaking 5-1 win

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Lionel Messi scored at hat-trick for Barcelona on the day they set the record for 35 unbeaten matches. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:08am, 4 Mar 2016Updated: 10:08am, 4 Mar 2016

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick as Barcelona defeated nine-man Rayo Vallecano 5-1 to become the first Spanish club to play 35 consecutive matches without a loss, breaking Real Madrid’s record of nearly three decades ago.

When this team is playing at this level, it is very hard to stop us

Luis Enrique

Midfielder Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring, Messi added the second, third and fourth goals, and Arda Turan topped it off late.

Two Rayo players were sent off for straight red cards: Diego Llorente when the hosts were 2-0 behind, and Manuel Iturra at 3-1 down. Barcelona striker Luis Suarez missed a penalty kick with his team up 3-1.

It was Barcelona’s 10th win in a row in the Spanish league, keeping them eight points ahead of second-place Atletico Madrid, who defeated Real Sociedad 3-0 on Tuesday.

Luis Suarez didn’t manage to find the net but was a big part of the unstoppable Barca attack. Photo: AP

Real Madrid remained 12 points behind after defeating last-place Levante 3-1 on Wednesday.

“Now the best part of the season begins, when we will see if we can achieve our goals,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “When this team is playing at this level, it is very hard to stop us.”

Real Madrid’s record of 34 successive unbeaten games was set in 1989 under coach Leo Beenhakker and with players such as Emilio Butragueno and Hugo Sanchez.