MSN all got on the scoresheet as Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga with a resounding 5-1 victory over Leganes in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Despite having the likes of Sergi Roberto, Denis Suarez and Arda Turan available, Luis Enrique opted for a 3-4-3 formation and gave a first start of the season to Rafinha, who had experience of playing as an inverted right winger, although less so as a midfielder.
Elsewhere, Sergio Busquets’ absence was filled by Javier Mascherano, the Argentine dropping into central defence, Andres Iniesta came in for Andre Gomes and the ‘MSN’ of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all featured up top.
Barca were hoping to fare better at Butarque than they did the last time they faced a newly-promoted team, when they were stunned 2-1 at home by Alaves just a week ago, and they were duly greeted by the town’s signature food – a basket of cucumbers.
Leganes started the match with plenty of vigour but were hit by a Barca sucker punch on just 15 minutes, Suarez breezing past his marker down the left and rolling the ball across Serantes’ goal for Messi to tap in.
Suarez then chipped an inch-perfect ball onto the right peg of Neymar, who was waiting near the penalty area, but his volley bounced over the bar. Moments earlier, the No 9 was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity as replays showed he was clearly onside when he met Rafinha’s pass in the box.
Both teams’ direct approach was emphasised by their passing accuracy after the first half-hour, with Leganes clocking in at 54.3 percent and Barca 10% higher, but the latter were significantly more dangerous.
Suarez showed real determination to evade Pablo Insua and then Unai Bustinza down the left before coming inside and seeing his deflected shot almost catch out Jon Serantes, but the No 9 eventually found the back of the net when Messi returned the favour, angling a square ball for Suarez to walk into an empty net.
However, Leganes passed up the chance to set up a contest when Darwin Machis left Mascherano for dead down the left and broke into the box for a one-on-one with Ter Stegen, but the goalkeeper blocked the striker’s close-range shot, before his rebound was cleared off the line by Samuel Umtiti.
Neymar’s turn in front of Serantes subsequently fell on the cusp of half-time, and some neat Messi skill released Suarez, who teed up Neymar for yet more superb and selfless play from Barca’s terrific trio.
Leganes were made to pay for another missed chance when Mamadou Kone found himself one-on-one with Gerard Pique just inside the Barca box and curled a shot straight at Ter Stegen as Bustinza conceded a penaty, hauling back Neymar at Serantes’ near post after the Brazilian was released by a visionary Suarez pass. Messi then fired the spot-kick into the roof of the goalkeeper’s net.
Messi came a whisker away from his hat-trick when Iniesta picked him out beautifully with a square ball in the Leganes box, but his shot was parried away by Serantes and substitute Paco Alcacer couldn’t react to the rebound quickly enough.
An understanding between the two showed promise as they were at it again in a matter of minutes. Messi later cut the ball back for Alcacer, although Bustinza threw his body in front of the open goal and the former Valencia striker’s finish, but Rafinha made no mistake with his rocket that flew into the top-left corner of Serantes’ net.
However, the Butarque roof came off with 10 minutes remaining as Leganes scored their first-ever La Liga goal on home soil through Gabriel Appelt, who bent a free kick past Ter Stegen after Neymar was booked for dissent.
Leganes 1-5 Barcelona
Gabriel 80 (L) Messi 15, pen 55, Suarez 31, Neymar 44, Rafinha 64 (B)
Leganes: Serantes; Diaz, Medjani (Perez 46), Insua, Rico, Bustinza; Lopez (Szymanowski 61), Gabriel, Sastre; Machis (Ramos 61), Kone
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Mascherano, Pique, Umtiti; Rafinha, Rakitic(Arda 57) , Iniesta (Denis 65), Alba; Messi, Suarez (Alcacer 56), Neymar
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea
