Lionel Messi scored two goals and provided two assists as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 5-1 to return to the top of La Liga.

Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet drove in an early goal before Kiko bundled in for Valladolid.

Arturo Vidal poked in from Messi’s pass to restore Barcelona’s lead before the Argentine curled in a superb free-kick – the 50th such goal of his career.

“There were wonders coming out of his foot,” said Valladolid’s Michel.

“You can only applaud and enjoy it.”

There was more Messi magic to come in the second half as he superbly controlled an Ivan Rakitic ball with one touch before powering a fierce drive into the back of the net with another.

He then completed his fine performance by slipping a ball through the defence for Luis Suarez to sweep in his side’s fifth.

Barcelona were not in action at the weekend after their game with Real Madrid was postponed because of safety fears surrounding the ongoing protests in Catalonia.

That allowed Granada, who had only returned to the top flight this season, the opportunity to instead become the Spanish top flight’s unlikely leaders as they beat Real Betis 1-0.

Barcelona needed to win to reclaim top spot, which they did in impressive style with Messi at his scintillating best.

Earlier, Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Alaves.

Alvaro Morata gave Atletico the lead after finishing off a fine team move but an excellent long-range strike by former West Ham forward Lucas Perez earned Alaves a point.

Mark Cavendish says he is still interested in racing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as he prepares to return to the track at Six Day London in October.

Cavendish and Wiggins finished ninth in the madison at Beijing 2008 and the event was cut from the next two Olympics, but its return for Tokyo was announced in 2017, with Cavendish saying he was keen to compete.

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has changed the points structure of the madison, in which two riders alternate racing over 200 laps for men and 120 laps for women, who will race it at Olympic level for the first time in 2020.

Cavendish said the format changes “take away” from the event and so the Six Day madison holds more “sentimental value”, but it would not put him off racing at Tokyo 2020.

“It’s a lot less tactical now. Before, you really had to plan your race – now you just have to ride it,” he said.

“But it doesn’t affect the ability of the rider.”

‘The highlight of the year’

Cavendish has finished second in both of his previous Six Day London appearances, alongside Wiggins in 2016 and Peter Kennaugh in 2017.

He was forced to withdraw from last year’s event as he took a period of total rest from cycling because of the Epstein-Barr virus.

“I’m really excited to be back,” he said. “I was sad not to ride last year – I came down to watch and missed it. This velodrome is very special to me.

“It’s really built on London 2012 and Six Day is the highlight of the year now.”

Olympic champion Elinor Barker and Manon Lloyd will form an all-Welsh pairing in the elite women competition.

Welshman Doull, who won Olympic gold in the 2016 team pursuit, will be making his Six Day debut in London, having just completed his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a Espana for Team Ineos.

“I’ve done a madison before with Owain but he’s never done a Six Day so I’ll show him the ropes,” said Cavendish.

“We rode together in Rio and I’ve seen him grow as a road rider so I know physically he’ll be able and we should get a decent result.”

Doull, 26, said he “can’t wait” to race alongside a “British cycling legend” at Lee Valley.

“I’ve heard great things about Six Day and will be determined to bring it home for Wales under the lights,” he added.

Italy’s Olympic omnium champion Elia Viviani and Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan, who won one and three Tour de France stages this year respectively, are also set to ride at Six Day London.

“It’s probably going to be the most competitive field I’ve raced with here, with guys who are the best sprinters of their generation,” said Cavendish.

“I’ve had battles on the track with Elia before and it will be nice to have home advantage this time.

“There was a rise of big, strong sprinters for a while on the road, but it’s come around for small and fast guys like myself. To have the three best guys like that at Six Day is a big thing.”