Lionel Messi netted a stunning hat-trick to help FC Barcelona record an emphatic win over Tenerife for their first win of the New Year and move the club back to the top of the table. The Argentinian scored three times in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López as the warmer temperatures in the Canary Islands appeared to suit the worlds best player. Despite the final score Barça had to work hard and ride their luck in the opening half-an-hour as Tenerife started brightly, but once the deadlock had been broken Pep Guardiolas side were completely in control and never looked unlikely to come away without maximum points. Early chances Alfaro was the most impressive player for the hosts in the opening stages as he had a string of chances. After hammering his first effort again the crossbar, the Tenerife forward was denied by a good save from Víctor Valdés and then saw a third opportunity go begging soon afterwards. Three quick goals Having kept Tenerife out for the opening 35 minutes, Barça took the lead nine minutes before the break when Bojan Krkic worked some magic on the left of the area before pulling the ball back for Messi to drive it back across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. Moments later the visitors were two ahead when the goalscorer turned provider as Messi saw his free-kick nodded home when Carles Puyol met the ball ahead of the keeper in the area. A two-goal lead would have been good at the break, but Barça found a third shortly before the berak as Andrés …