Lionel Messi’s historic hat-trick inspired Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
Luis Enrique failed to field the same team for 28 successive matches, but injuries to Jeremy Mathieu and Xavi Hernandez arguably forced his hand as he named his first unchanged line-up of the season in La Liga.
Real Madrid's victory over Getafe earlier in the day meant Barca had no choice but to win at Riazor, otherwise they faced falling potentially seven points behind the leaders, and they played like it.
At one point in the first half, the Catalan giants had 82 percent of the ball and churned out chances at will, with Messi and Luis Suarez both fluffing their lines from point-blank range.
Nonetheless, Messi was superbly picked out by Ivan Rakitic’s deep cross for his first of the evening, flinging himself onto the ball and sending a header into the top-right corner of Fabricio’s net.
The Argentine was at it again 10 minutes prior to the interval, capitalising on a lucky backheel from Suarez in the box and clipping the finish home through the tightest of gaps.
Barca’s dominance was once more prevalent in the second half, and on the hour mark Messi became the first player since Telmo Zarra to record 30 hat-tricks with one club after he netted his third of the evening.
Rakitic registered his second assist of the evening, scooping up a pass from a short corner for the Argentine to follow through, and the No 10 took a couple of touches before smashing a shot hard and low into the bottom-left corner.
La Blaugrana’s evening was rounded off in slightly fortuitous fashion, Alberto Lopo seeing his clearance cannon off the back of Sidnei and into the Depor net, but it was Barca’s just rewards.
Deportivo 0-4 Barcelona
Messi 10, 33, 62, Sidnei og 83
Deportivo: Fabricio; Juanfran, Sidnei, Lopo, Luisinho; Dominguez, Bergantino; Cuenca, Cavaleiro (Rodriguez 45), Medunjanin (Lucas 79); Riera (Toche 63)
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets (Bartra 66), Iniesta (Rafinha 66); Messi, Suarez, Neymar (Pedro 70)
Referee: Martinez Munuera
