Barcelona star Lionel Messi netted a hat-trick in their 5-0 whitewash of Copa opponents Real Betis at the Nou Camp.
On Monday Messi became the inaugural winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or after scoring an astonishing 60 goals for club and country in 2010, and he was back amongst the goals, netting in the 44th, 62nd and 73rd minutes to set Barca on their way to an impressive victory in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Pep Guardiola's side then added further strikes through Pedro Rodriguez and substitute Seydou Keita in the final 14 minutes to complete the scoring and make the second leg largely academic.
The scoreline was harsh on Betis though, with the Segunda Division leaders giving the Primera Division pacesetters plenty of problems at the back with their high-pressing tactics, but they had no answer at the other end to Barca's all-star attack.
