Messi fuels Barca's 6-0 rout of Getafe before Arsenal visit

Published Mar. 12, 2016 12:04 p.m. ET

foxsports

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Lionel Messi scored one goal and figured in four more to keep Barcelona on course to retaining its Spanish league title with a 6-0 rout of Getafe, increasing its domestic record to 37 games without a loss.

The only blemish to Messi's superb showing Saturday was a missed penalty in the first half.

Otherwise, the Argentina forward led a dominant performance that does not bode well for Arsenal's chances to overturn a 2-0 loss in Champions League action Wednesday.

Barcelona never looked back after an opening own-goal by Getafe's Juan Rodriguez.

Messi then made up for his missed spot kick by scoring to make it 4-0 before halftime while also assisting Neymar for two goals and Munir El Haddadi on another.

Barcelona leads Atletico Madrid by a provisional 11 points.