Lionel Messi scored two superb solo goals as Barcelona thrashed Celta Vigo 5-0 on Saturday to move back atop La Liga.
In what was the most Barca-esque performance from the Blaugrana for quite some time, Messi scored twice and set up two more as Celta suffered their heaviest defeat since October.
Rafinha was in ahead of Andres Iniesta for Barca as Andre Gomes missed out due to illness. Celta, meanwhile, were the last League team to beat the Catalans and managed by Eduardo Berizzo – the Coach with the most wins against Luis Enrique.
Luis Suarez shimmied past his opponent and only had Sergio Alvarez to beat in Barca’s first chance of the evening, but his side-footed finish clipped the post, before Messi’s rebound was deflected wide by the goalkeeper.
Samuel Umtiti’s clearance in the other box, however, only went as far as Facundo Roncaglia – directly in front of him – who sliced the ball inches wide.
Yet flashbacks of the 2011-12 Messi that scored 91 goals in a calendar year soon began rushing back.
The Argentine had his back to goal near the halfway line, turned on a sixpence, ghosted past two Celta players and placed his shot beautifully into Sergio’s bottom-left corner.
It was soon Rafinha’s turn to inflict damage as the midfielder veered in from the left and sent his opponent to the deck, but the midfielder could only shoot straight at Sergio.
Nonetheless, MSN were well and truly back in business. Messi’s through ball split the Celta defence and found Neymar, who looped a finish over Sergio.
Sergi Roberto almost bettered Messi and Neymar when he drove through the middle, but his squirming finish was cleared just before it could cross the line.
Rakitic was clearly offside, however, when he poked Neymar’s pass through the legs of Sergio, yet none of the officials agreed and the goal counted.
Moments later, Messi centred the ball for Umtiti in the box, and the centre-back slid home for his first goal in Barca colours.
Messi confirmed a five-star performance from both himself and his side when he dashed into Celta’s box from the right, feinted the shot twice before finally going in for the kill.
The No 10 was away in the clear not long after, but passed up the opportunity of a hat-trick and went for a dink to Luis Suarez, which was blocked.
Celta’s only chance in the second half, for their part, was wasted by Daniel Wass, who received the ball on a plate from Iago Aspas in the box but snatched at the shot.
Back at the other end, the mercurial Messi released Suarez down the right, but his cross-shot rolled across an empty net.
Desperate to assist Barca’s sixth goal, Messi received the ball from Suarez and crossed at the right-hand byline for Denis to finish off, but the midfielder’s header was saved by Sergio.
As three minutes of injury time were signalled, Aspas blasted the ball inches wide after he cut into the Barca box from the right.
Barcelona 5-0 Celta Vigo
Messi 24, 64, Neymar 40, Rakitic 57, Umtiti 61
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi (Iniesta 70), Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets (Mascherano 61), Rafinha; Messi, Suarez, Neymar (Denis 70)
Celta Vigo: Sergio; Roncaglia, Gomez, Cabral; Jonny, Radoja, Wass (Diaz 68), Mallo; Bongonda (Sisto 51); Aspas, Guidetti (Jozabed 62)
Referee: Gil Manzano
