Lionel Messi handed strike-partner Luis Suárez a hat-trick on a plate with an audaciously taken penalty as Barcelona hit Celta Vigo for six.

The Argentine rolled his 81st-minute spot-kick into Suárez’s path to allow him to complete his treble as Barca recovered from a low-key start to win 6-1 and maintain their place at the top of the Primera Division table.

Had Messi scored the penalty himself, it would have been his 300th Primera Division goal.

Barcelona were far from their fluent best before the break, but took a 20th-minute lead when Messi, having gone close with an earlier attempt, curled a superb free-kick over the wall and beyond keeper Sergio Alvarez’s despairing dive.

But the lead was extinguished six minutes before the break when, having been tripped by defender Jordi Alba, Celta striker John Guidetti converted the resulting penalty despite keeper Claudio Bravo going the right way.

Suárez restored the home side’s lead when he played a delicious 59th-minute one-two with Messi and nonchalantly dispatched the return pass, and it was 3-1 15 minutes from time when he stabbed Neymar’s shot over the line after Messi and the Brazilian had torn the visitors apart.

The Uruguay striker completed his hat-trick in outrageous fashion from Messi’s penalty, and further goals from substitute Ivan Rakitic and Neymar completed the rout as time ran down.

Earlier, Fernando Torres scored his 101st goal for Atlético Madrid in the first minute at Getafe and they then held on for a 1-0 win, leaving them three points behind Barcelona. Real Madrid are a point behind after a 4-2 home win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.