The chant of ‘Messi, Messi’ echoed around the stadium as it has so many times before but this was not the Camp Nou and it wasn’t only Barcelona’s small contingent of travelling supporters paying homage to the Argentinian. Betis supporters in the Benito Villamarin had just watched Messi score a hat-trick to destroy their team and all but wrap up the league for Barcelona, and what else could they do but join in the praise? Nostalgic old footballer supporters, of all club colours, will one day tell their grandchildren - once there was a player for whom being awarded a free-kick was just like being given a penalty. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Real Betis 4-1 to go ten points clear at the top of La Liga Messi celebrates after scoring Barcelona's second goal during their 4-1 La Liga victory away to Real Betis Messi celebrates with team-mates Arturo Vidal and Arthur after scoring Barcelona's second goal against Real Betis After setting up Messi's second goal, Luis Suarez proceeded to score Barcelona's third in an impressive victory Messi scored his first goal of the night with his fifth direct free-kick of the season. He then scored his second from Luis Suarez’ pass and chipped in a third in a 4-1 win that leaves Barcelona 10 points clear of the field with 10 games left. It was Messi’s 27th, 28th and 29th goals of the season as Barcelona cruised over this potential speed bump on the straight flat road that will surely now lead to the title. By the time they play that first leg against Manchester United next month it could be done and dusted domestically. Messi’s free-kick goal came on 18 minutes after Arthur Melo was awarded a debatable foul on the edge of the Betis area. Messi opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 18th minute of the game with a well-struck free-kick Messi celebrates after he scored Barcelona's opening goal in their clash against Real Betis The Argentine attacker's brilliance proved too difficult for Real Betis to deal with as he scored a hat-trick Betis had four men in the wall plus a fifth player lying down behind the wall in case Messi tried to roll it in. Instead he curled it left footed into the top left-hand corner of Pau Lopez’ goal. It was his 25th free-kick goal in La Liga in the last eight seasons. Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho all had great set-piece strike rates but he leaves them all a long way behind. Conceded to him on the edge of the area really is like giving away a penalty. Messi scored the second too. This time the artistry came from Suarez. Jordi Alba fed Messi who played in Suarez. The Uruguayan was facing the right hand side of the six-yard box and dragging the Betis defence with him. But, as if with eyes in the back of his head, he knew where Messi was and he played the ball to him to the left of the area with a deft back-heel. Messi, with three green and white shirts in pursuit, scampered onto it and sent the ball past Lopez to make it 2-0. Messi had, moments earlier, gifted Suarez a chance to make it 2-0. The move had started with an incredible pass from goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen behind the Betis defence to Jordi Alba but ended with Suarez’ tame shot saved. Betis had not played badly with former Real Madrid player Jese going close twice. The number 10 – with a number 10 shaved into his hair – sent two shots just wide. Former Barcelona winger Cristian Tello looked dangerous too. He got to the byline and crossed but no-one could convert from inside six-yard box with Alba getting back ahead of Joaquin. The Barcelona players are jubilant after Messi opened the scoring in his side's clash against Real Betis MATCH FACTS Real Betis: Pau Lopez, Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei, Joaquin (Emerson 67), William Carvalho (Loren Moron 75), Guardado, Tello, Lo Celso (Lainez 68), Canales, Jese Subs: Sergio Leon, Kaptoum, Joel Robles, Feddal Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Vidal, Arthur (Semedo 64), Rakitic (Alena 88), Messi, Suarez (Coutinho 90) Subs: Cillessen, Umtiti, Boateng, Malcom As the ball ran out to William Carvalho it looked as if he would have the chance to shoot but Messi, the artful dodger – as Terry Venables once called him – picked the midfielder’s pocket and Betis were back under pressure. He was everywhere as Barcelona tried to all but wrap the league up before the international break. Suarez could have made it 3-0 at the start of the second half but he shot just wide of Lopez’ goal having run from the halfway line after Mandi’s error. He took no more than two minutes to make up for the mistake. Why score the easy goal when you can finish a more difficult chance 120 seconds later. He twisted and turned as he powered into the area and as Marc Bartra and Mandi, and then Lopez went to ground he hit the back of the net. Betis substitutes Diego Lainez and Loren Moron combined with the later scoring to make it 3-1 but Messi struck for his hat-trick. This time it was delicate chip over Lopez. The keeper was not off his line but it didn’t matter. This was one of Barcelona’s most impressive performances of the season and it came with Ousmane Dembele injured and Philippe Coutinho on the bench. They really could have kept that Neymar money in the bank two years ago. With Suarez, who picked up a late ankle knock and could barely walk on the final whistle, and above all, Messi in this form, Barcelona need nothing more. All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility