Adios

Thanks so much for joining my live coverage of this match. Messi scored two goals to Falcao's one, but they were pretty even throughout the match and Messi's second was on a platter.

Stay tuned for Rob Train's review of this match.

Gracias!

Full-time

That's it. The match is over and maybe La Liga is as well.

Barcelona win by three goals and now have a nine-point lead over Atletico Madrid as well as 13 over Real Madrid.

La Blaugrana are on track to break Madrid's 100-point record made last season and may have the title wrapped up before the new year.

More on the goal

Messi gets his sixth-straight brace, but this was was gift wrapped for him.

Diego Godin makes a rare mistake as he mixes up duties with Miranda at the back.

He takes a loose ball with Messi pressing, but rather than clearing he tries to back-heel it away and, needless to say, Messi takes advantage.

The score is now 4-1 and Atleti will lose their third game of the season.

88'—GOOOOOL MESSI!

87'—Atletico win a late corner here and have a decent chance of getting another goal, but the ball is sent in and then falls weakly to Valdes.

85'—Vilanova protects Adriano

Barcelona's first scorer looked to tweak his hamstring and is taken off for Dani Alves to prevent risking further injury.

The Camp Nou chanting "We love you, Mourinho stay!"

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) December 16, 2012

80'—Courtois looks mighty good here.

Iniesta is given a bit too much room at the top of the box and shoots, but the Beligan keeper saved the ball after a deflection sends him to ground early.

His makes the stop with his feet and then quickly pops up to smother the ball.

70'—Barcelona Sub

David Villa will now play the last 10 minutes as he comes on for Pedro.

Villa will try and make an impact despite coming on when the game is out of reach and Barca are threatening less ardently.

Missing Cebolla badly in the big matches. #onionabstinencesyndrom BAD for #Atleti don't you think?

— This Is Atleti (@thisisatleti) December 16, 2012

75'—Barcelona Sub

Vilanova makes his first change here and it's to bring Thiago on for Sanchez.

Chances are that Iniesta will be the more forward player now with Pedro shifting to the right side.

With Thiago on, the Barca coach is clearly trying to close out. The youngster playing with Xavi and Busquets is about as perfect a closing midfield as it can get.

73'—The pace of this one has slowed down tremendously as Barca are just trying to close out while taking chances to score whenever Atleti gets caught looking vulnerable.

Atleti are now just closing up and playing heavy off the counter.

The midfield pressing that was so great in the first half has all but gone and time on the ball is minimal for Los Colchoneros.

For the first time in his career, Lionel Messi has scored in 6 consecutive Liga games #fcblive [via misterchip]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 16, 2012

69'—Atletico do well to hold possession and force Barca to run a bit, but they eventually try and test the defense with a deep cross.

Alba is there to clear the ball and slow Adrian in the end. Nice play from both teams there.

68'—David Villa and Thiago are seen warming up on the sideline as Tito Vilanova begins thinking about his changes soon.

45'—Adriano might have saved a goal here.

Adrian sends a fine ball in for Falcao who has no one but Valdes in front, but Ariano beats him to the ball and clears it away for a corner.

Nothing comes from it.

Atletico Madrid is the team against which Lionel Messi has scored most goals (16) in the Spanish league #fcblive [via opta]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 16, 2012

With 171 goals in the year 2012, Barcelona sets a new Spanish record for most goals in a calendar year #fcblive [via #barcastat]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 16, 2012

Video (new): Goal Messi (3-1) dai.ly/Y9ra8r[via @spherachannel] #fcblive

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 16, 2012

A finish that you have became familiar with when watching Messi but no one else can do it with that much ease. #Messi

— Matt Smith (@ElasticoChop) December 16, 2012

3-1 Lack of intensity in midfield pressure and ball reaches Messi who shoots to Courtois' far right angle. Badly played by #Atleti

— This Is Atleti (@thisisatleti) December 16, 2012

59'—Sub for Atleti

Very interesting move for Simeone here as he uses his third and final change. Diego Costa comes off for Tiago and Adrian will take Costa's place in attack.

More on the goal

It had to come eventually. Messi takes the ball from Sanchez and literally runs around Juanfran and then Miranda before sending an unstoppable shot past Courtois.

Barcelona now have a comfortable two-goal lead.

57'—GOOOOOOL MESSI!!!!!!!!!

56'—Sub for Atleti

Suarez is now coming off for Adrian Lopez as Simeone chooses to take off a midfielder for another forward.

It seems Atleti will either play a higher-pressing, but less efficient overloaded midfield or will switch to the 4-3-3.