Another Lionel Messi masterclass allowed Barcelona to sweep aside Elche 6-0 in La Liga on Saturday.
Luis Suarez was benched despite Saturday being his 28th birthday and was joined among the reserves by Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Joining Pedro in the team were Martin Montoya at right-back and Marc Bartra at centre-back, with Javier Mascherano taking Busquets’ place in midfield. Bartra partnered Pique, and Jordi Alba rounded off the back four as Claudio Bravo continued in goal.
Rafinha stood in for Iniesta alongside Masche and Xavi Hernandez, while Ivan Rakitic didn’t make the trip and instead remained in Catalonia. Jeremy Mathieu missed out through injury, and Pedro Rodriguez, Lionel Messi and Neymar were the front three for Luis Enrique’s side.
The Catalans were hoping for a similar outcome to their recent Copa del Rey duels with Elche, having stuffed them 9-0 on aggregate, but the closest they came to a breakthrough at first was Messi’s free kick, which whistled just wide of the right-hand post.
The hosts, meanwhile, had two chances to pull ahead, Faycal Fajr being the guilty party. The Frenchman initially bent a free kick towards goal, which Claudio Bravo tipped wide, before he saw another attempt saved, this time from close range.
Nonetheless, Barca continued on their way and were unfortunate to see both Jordi Alba’s first-time effort whizz just over the bar from the edge of the box and Neymar fail to trap Lionel Messi’s square pass at the back post.
Indeed, they eventually broke the deadlock through Pique, who met Xavi’s set-piece delivery at the far post, chested it down and fired a half-volley past Przemyslaw Tyton.
Unfortunately for Elche, it was to be a repeat performance of their cup nightmare. Neymar rode Sergio Pelegrin’s leg in the box, leaving Messi to stroke the ball just to the right of the Pole.
The home side fell further by the wayside when Faycal received his marching orders for a second yellow card, taking out Rafinha with a heavy challenge.
Messi and Neymar then showcased their first piece of devastating link-up play, the Argentine dropping a shoulder before feeding the No 11, who blasted home.
The 27-year-old then became La Liga’s leading assister with 10 for the campaign, playing a one-two with Neymar and eventually clipping the ball over an Elche shirt for the former Santos star to put away.
Messi’s work was then complete for the night, this time going by himself with a surging run into the box and applying the most routine of finishes. Tyton stood statuesque like the rest of his team.
If the points weren’t already in the bag, Pedro rounded things off with a simple tap-in at the death, meeting Neymar’s inch-perfect low cross around the back.
Elche 0-6 Barcelona
Faycal off 57 (E) Pique 35, Messi pen 55, 88, Neymar 69, 71, Pedro 90+3 (B)
Elche: Tyton; Damian, Roco, Pelegrin, Cisma (Albacar 61); Pasalic, Adrian (Lomban 70); Aaron (Coro 82), Faycal, Victor; Jonathas
Barcelona: Bravo; Montoya, Pique, Bartra, Alba (Busquets 70); Mascherano (Adriano 70), Xavi (Sergi Roberto 72), Rafinha; Pedro, Messi, Neymar
Referee: Clos Gomez
