A wild La Liga matchup finally came to a close Saturday, as Barcelona survived a scare from Deportivo La Coruna to win 5-4 and remain unbeaten behind Lionel Messi’s hat trick at Riazor Stadium.

Messi’s final goal came in the 77th minute, and was nearly negated by defender Jordi Alba’s own goal in the 79th. Alba’s error gave La Coruna hope late, but the Catalans hung on for the win, despite being down a player after Javier Mascherano was sent off in the 49th minute for his second yellow card.

The Catalans were up 3-0 after Messi scored his first goal with a scorching ball to the top right corner of the net just outside the penalty area and Barcelona thought they had the game in hand within the first 18 minutes.

La Coruna’s Pizzi earned a penalty kick after he was tripped up by Mascherano in the 26th, and fired a goal past Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes to put his team on the board 3-1.

Alex Bergantinos then brought La Coruna even closer after recovering a rebound from a corner kick, and firing a low shot that bounced off Valdes and into the net, cutting the lead to 3-2.

Messi ended the scoring in the first half, after receiving a through ball from Fabregas and firing a low shot across the area for his second goal of the half, and giving the Catalans a 4-2 cushion.

Pizzi made the game even tighter with his second goal, a winding penalty kick over the Catalans' wall that cut the lead to 4-3.

Earlier Messi found Cristian Tello streaking on the right side of the pitch and Tello dribbled around the Deportivo defense for his goal in the 8th minute and a Catalans lead of 2-0.

The highlights for this blistering La Liga game are below:

Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona 0-1 20.10.12 by ourmatch

Deportivo La Coruna 0-2 Barcelona by goalsarena2012

Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona 0-3 20.10.12 by ourmatch

Deportivo La Coruna 1-3 Barcelona by goalsarena2012

Deportivo La Coruna 2-3 Barcelona by goalsarena2012

Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona 2-4 20.10.12 by ourmatch

Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona 3-4 20.10.12 by ourmatch

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