Henry hammers Levante

Two of Henry's trio of finishes came in the first half while Messi added a third in the second half, closely followed by the France striker's final goal. Viqueira took his chance after Christian Rigano won the spot-kick, but it was far too little in the face of Barca's dominance.

Barcelona arrived in Valencia with perhaps the greatest player in the world in their ranks in Lionel Messi. He started as usual on the right with Andres Iniesta pushed a little to the left because of Ronaldinho's continued absence.

The first minutes were typical of a match involving Barca. They strung passes in defence and midfield, looking for gaps, while their opponents sought to close it down.

However Levante striker Rigano forced the first save of the evening from Victor Valdes. The tall goalie had little trouble in keeping it out.

On 12 minutes Deco whipped a tasty free-kick from near the halfway line onto the head of Gabi Milito, but the centre-half - who retained his place at the expense of captain Carles Puyol, now back from injury - was turning away from goal and could only divert the ball wide of the far post.

In the 17th Iniesta sprung the offside trap and reached the by-line. He waited for Henry to arrive at the near post and the former Arsenal star was unfortunate not to get enough boot on it to score.

From the resulting corner Italian goalkeeper Marco Storari punched weakly to the edge of the box and Xavi headed the ball back across. Messi smacked a volley at goal that the 'keeper did well to block but Henry, just onside at the far post, slid the ball home for 1-0.

Dutchman Mustapha Riga found half-a-yard of room and used it to strike at goal from 20 yards, but that was the last time the Granotes threatened before half time.

In the next minute Messi, who was terrorising the Levante defence by this time, chased down Alvaro and the big centre-half fell over with little or no contact from the tiny attacker. He stuck the ball in the net but referee Clos Gomez blew for a free-kick.

It mattered little as seconds later the score was 2-0 thanks to a fantastic through-ball from Messi's less-favoured right foot. Henry raced onto it on the left and characteristically curled home with the inside of his right foot.

Henry forced Storari into a save at the near post and Messi skinned Bruno Cirillo before slamming a shot just wide of the target as Barcelona almost added to their tally before the half.

The damage was extended when Henry finished, again into the far corner, four minutes after the break. Deco tried to play in Messi on the turn but the pass took a deflection and fell instead to Henry, who completed his hat-trick with aplomb.

We barely had time to breathe before Messi received possession and went straight for goal again. He teased his way into the area and past Bruno on the right before somehow finding space to come back onto his left foot and curl the ball into the far corner.

Messi left after that, Giovani dos Santos replacing him, and the Mexican starlet had some joy in his stead without finding a cutting edge.

Skipper Puyol, who came on for the injured Milito at half time, foolishly gave away a penalty on Rigano a minute after the striker had struck the post amid a good spell from the home team.

Viqueira stepped up and stroked it home, but Levante were by then well and truly beaten.