/world sport
MADRID, Spain -- Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick as Barcelona won 4-1 at Levante to overhaul champions Real Madrid at the top of Spain's Primera Liga.
Summer signing Henry had not scored for Barcelona before this game.
Henry, who moved from Arsenal in a 24 million euro ($34.16 million) transfer in the summer, had not scored for his new club before this weekend, but he broke his duck in the 17th minute, snapping up the chance after Lionel Messi's shot was parried.
Seven minutes later Messi provided Henry with the opportunity for his second with a brilliant pass which the Frenchman sidefooted into the net.
Henry completed his treble three minutes into the second period and Messi scored a well-earned goal two minutes later.
The young Argentinean is the league's top marksman with five.
Real had the opportunity to return to the top when they visited Getafe on Sunday.
Messi, who has been christened the "Messi-ah" by the Spanish media after some superlative early-season displays for Barcelona, now seems to have displaced Ronaldinho as the club's number one star.
The Brazilian was again absent with a calf injury and the side have achieved three successive victories without him.
Sevilla's slump continued when they went down 2-0 at Real Zaragoza for their third successive league loss.
Andres D'Alessandro gave Zaragoza a 53rd minute lead and Sergio Garcia added a late effort.
The UEFA Cup holders now trail Barcelona by eight points. E-mail to a friend 
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