BARCELONA -- Barcelona coach Luis Enrique hailed Lionel Messis all-round performance after the Argentine's latest hat trick saw off Espanyol 5-1 in Sunday's city derby.
The visitors shocked the Camp Nou crowd by taking an early lead through former Blaugrana graduate Sergio Garcia, but Messi notched a 21st La Liga treble to guide his side to a comfortable win.
Gerard Pique and substitute Pedro Rodriguez were the other scorers as Barca moved to within two points of leaders Real Madrid, and Enrique told his postmatch news conference: "Messi attacks, but he defends too.
"You easily get used to having players who can make the difference like that. When they have freedom, it is difficult to stop them.
"What we want is that, in Leo's case, he brings the most to the team. He did not just do that today scoring -- he also made chances, and we saw him defending too. That is what we look for in all our players."
Enrique said Messi's first goal -- a 20-yard drive just before half-time -- had turned a game that had become difficult for his side.
"Their goal started to generate doubts," he said. "It was difficult for us to get in to the game, and their counters were causing us problems. [Messi's first] goal was key.
"At the start of the second half, the second goal did a lot of damage to the opponent. After the break we were much better, more fluid, [with] more movement of the ball. When we can get to the edge of the box in those situations, it is difficult for opponents."
The game was played with a heavier police presence than usual, part of a move by Spain's political and footballing authorities to crack down on violent behaviour around games in the wake of the death of a Deportivo La Coruna ultra last weekend.
Asked about a report by COPE radio that 17 Real Madrid fans had been expelled from the Bernabeu during Saturday's 3-0 win over Celta Vigo for chanting offensive slogans against Messi and Barca, Enrique said it was difficult to try and control such situations.
" I back any anti-violence measures, but if we start expelling people from stadiums for insults, there will not be many left, including players," he added.
"I've been going to games since I was eight years old, there are insults in all stadiums. I do not know where we can draw the line.
"We must try and control all the negative things, any violent acts, but we are talking about the culture of the country. I would be delighted if there were no more insults, but we are passionate people, enthusiastic."
Barcelona move on to Wednesday night's Champions League Group F decider at home to Paris Saint-Germain, for whom ex-Barca forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to feature.
"PSG is a marvellous, perfect game for us," Enrique added. "It gives us chance to win and top the group. I did not see their game [a 2-1 win over Nantes on Saturday], but we have reports on all their matches.
"Today, we will start to focus on them -- we know them very well. They are getting Ibrahimovic back. I expect a similar version to what we saw in Paris. I hope we get a better result."