Lionel Messi took his tally in Catalan derbies
to 18 with a hat-trick against Espanyol as Barcelona made it three wins
from three in LaLiga.
A
Lionel Messi hat-trick inspired a comprehensive 5-0 Catalan derby win
over Espanyol for Barcelona, who continued their 100 per cent start to
life under Ernesto Valverde in LaLiga.
Messi
opened the scoring in the 25th minute, although replays showed the
five-time Ballon d’Or winner was in an offside position when he received
Ivan Rakitic’s pass.
There was little else to
question in a majestic display from Barca’s talisman, who twice made the
most of expert service from Jordi Alba to claim the matchball in the
67th minute – goals 17 and 18 against Espanyol in the top flight.
There
were some dicey moments for Valverde’s men at the back but the Camp Nou
faithful were able to lap up Ousmane Dembele’s second half debut with
the points safe, even if chants calling for the resignation of club
president Josep Maria Bartomeu tempered a goal-laden finale.
Club-record
signing Dembele set up Luis Suarez to complete the scoring after Gerard
Pique headed a fourth from Ivan Rakitic’s 87th-minute corner and Real
Madrid’s 1-1 draw at home to Levante earlier on Saturday means Barca
hold a four-point advantage over the champions after three matches.
Barcelona made all the early running but suffered a scare in the 21st minute.
Sergio
Busquets was deservedly booked for cynically pulling back Leo Baptistao
after his slack pass threatened to give the Espanyol forward a route to
goal.
The opener arrived from the expected
source but Messi should have been flagged offside before controlling
Rakitic’s immaculate pass, cleverly turning David Lopez and rifling into
the top corner.
A sublime
second almost arrived in the 31st minute – Rakitic adding further to an
accomplished showing by gliding towards the box and exchanging passes
with Messi to draw a superb save from Pau Lopez.
Valverde’s
men did not have to wait long to double their advantage as Alba drove
an attack from his own half, reacted quickly to a ricocheted return pass
from Messi and set up the superstar forward to slot home.
Far
from fearing an imminent humiliation, Espanyol gamely responded and
Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was grasping at air when Pablo
Piatti’s strike cannoned back off the post two minutes before half-time.
Suarez
was back in the Barcelona line-up despite an injury scare while on
international duty but was not enjoying himself in front of goal as much
as Messi.
The Uruguay star fluffed a shot from Gerard Deulofeu’s cross and was denied by Pau at close quarters early in the second period.
A
mix-up between Ter Stegen and Alba almost gave Espanyol a lifeline in
the 51st minute but Piatti’s lofted shot bounced just wide.
Suarez’s
trials continued as he looped an attempt on to the roof of the net
having been set up by Messi – both forwards jogged back into position
wearing rueful smiles.
Espanyol were being
outplayed but retained a sporadic threat, with a combination of Pique
and Samuel Umtiti diverting Baptistao’s 61st-minute shot behind.
The
points were safe midway through the half when Messi and Suarez played
one-twos into the box and the ball broke to Alba, with the mercurial
Argentinian on hand to convert the cutback once more.
It was then time for Dembele’s triumphant arrival, with fellow new arrival Paulinho on his way shortly afterwards.
Dembele’s
every touch was cheered and he responded by tearing away from an
embattled backline to let Suarez end his personal misery, Pique having
revelled in piling further derby misery upon Espanyol shortly
beforehand.
The France youngster is at
Barcelona to target the summit of the world game and needed to look no
further than the match-winner playing inside him to see exactly what
that looks like.
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