Levante 1 Barcelona 4: Wenger watches as Arsenal target Tello scores hat-trick in Messi's milestone 400th game

Arsene Wenger was in the stands to watch Arsenal target Cristian Tello score a hat-trick in Barcelona's 4-1 comeback victory over Levante in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final.
The Gunners manager can't fail to have been impressed by the 22-year-old Spaniard's composed finishing - with all three goals set up by Lionel Messi in what was his landmark 400th appearance for the club.
After being denied by the hosts in the first half, Messi withdrew into midfield to turn playmaker and place four precise passes behind the defense that led to an own goal in the 53rd minute and Tello's treble in the 60th, 81st and 86th.

Provider: Lionel Messi (R)celebrates after setting up a hat-trick of goals for Cristian Tello (C) in Barcelona's 4-1 win over Levante

Happy clapper: Lionel Messi applauds fans after making his landmark 400th appearance for FC Barcelona

Cristian aid: Tello celebrates scoring the first of his three goals - all set up by Messi

Impressed: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was on a scouting mission to watch hat-trick hero Cristian Tello (L)

Match Facts

LEVANTE: Javi Jimenez; Nagore, Vyntra, Juanfran, Nikos; El Adoua, Sergio, Camarasa, Xumetra (Ríos); El Zhar (Nong), Barral (Rodriguez).
Subs: Navas, López, Delgado, Pallardó
Booked: Nagore
Scorer: El Zhar
BARCELONA: Pinto; Dani Alves, Puyol (Mascherano), Marc Bartra, Adriano; Alex Song, Xavi, Sergi Roberto; Pedro (Sánchez), Tello, Messi.
Subs: Valdés, Alba, Fábregas, Busquets, Dongou
Booked: Bartra
Scorer: Juanfran (og). Tello (3)

Levante had held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium just four days earlier in the Spanish league, and it was on course toward a similar feat after Nabil El Zhar netted in the 31st.
But Messi again showed that he is much more than Barcelona's all-time scorer with 331 goals since his debut in 2004 by exploiting Tello's speed down the left flank with well-timed assists.
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez scored twice to help earn a 3-1 victory at home over third-division Racing Santander in their opening leg.
Levante found Barcelona's weak spot in defending set pieces when Carles Puyol's clearance of a free kick fell for El Zhar to score at the second attempt after goalkeeper Jose Pinto had blocked his powerful first shot.
But Barcelona was more inspired after the break and Messi's first pass to Tello led to the equalizer. Goalie Javier Jimenez got down to block Tello's shot, but Loukas Vyntra struckd the loose ball off teammate Juanfran Garcia and into the net.
Messi again floated back to the center of the pitch to draw the defense with him before threading another pass to meet Tello's run, and this time the forward fired the ball beyond Jimenez to give Barcelona the lead.
The Argentina star fended off a tackle and slid a diagonal ball for Tello to score his second before Messi picked him out with a pass over the top for his third goal.
Puyol had to be replaced by Javier Mascherano in the 57th due to an apparent leg injury. The 35-year-old Puyol has been plagued by a series of injuries for the past two seasons.

Catch me if you can: Lionel Messi (2L) escapes Victor Camarasa (R) and Moroccan Nabil El Zhar (L) during the Copa del Rey quarter-final

Heads up: Carles Puyol (top) fights an aerial duel with David Barral (down) of Levante

In your face! Nabil El ZHar celebrates his opening goal after a mistake by Carles Puyol (ground)

Three is the magic number: Cristian Tello celebrates after scoring the second of his hat-trick goals

Magician: Lionel Messi played a part in all of Barcelona's four goals with his superb passing

Gaffers: Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino (L) and Levante's coach Joaquin Caparros watch from the sidelines

Best foot forward: Pedro hit the post in the first-half with Barcelona's first meaningful effort

Speak easy: Carles Puyol (L) has a talk with Lionel Messi after Barcelona concede a first-half lead to Levante

Twinkle toes: Lionel Messi (L) shapes to shoot as Levante's Sergio Pinto reacts

Come on let's do the Conga! Tello (R) is followed by a chain of Barcelona players after completing his hat-trick