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 La Liga.


Barcelona start the evening with 13 straight victories at home in the league, their best run since January 2014 and superior to anyone else in Spain’s top tier. 

An impressive 2016-17 campaign saw Espanyol finish in a respectable eighth position, and it was only the second time they had managed to end the season so high since 2005.

During the early stage of the derby, Barcelona keep patiently knocking the ball around inside the Espanyol half of the pitch as they try to find a way through on goal, but they're unable to do so and a poor attempted pass from Nelson Semedo flies out of play for an Espanyol throw-in.


26' GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol (Messi)

Lovely play by Messi! The Argentine picks up the ball inside the right-hand side of the Espanyol box and immediately skips past two defenders. He showcases lovely skill to get the better of the two players, and he then blasts a rocket of a shot straight past Pau from close range.


Rakitic did well to pick out Messi with a clever pass into the heart of the Espanyol penalty area, but the Argentine was at least a yard offside. The visitors won't be happy with that, as it's a poor decision that has gone against them.


31' Wonderful football from Barcelona! Messi and Rakitic play a delightful series of passes between themselves as they dance their way into the visitors' penalty area.


The Croatian then gets a shot away from close range and looks set to make it 2-0, but Pau saves the low effort with an excellent diving stop.


35' GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol (Messi double)

It's another for Barcelona! Space opens up for Messi, allowing him to burst through the middle of the pitch on a marauding run. 


He initially loses the ball on the edge of the Espanyol penalty area but it deflects off two players before falling to Jordi Alba, who sets up the Argentine to poke in from close range.


42' Piatti hits the post! Espanyol win the ball back from the determined hosts and are able to push forward on another good attack down the right wing.


A lovely cross into the penalty area isn't fully dealt with by the home side and is only cleared as far as Piatti, who quickly unleashes a shot and hits the woodwork with a thumping half-volley.


50' Piatti almost pulls one back! Poor control by Alba gifts a throw-in to Espanyol over on the right flank. It's taken quickly and eventually worked over to Lopez, who thumps a lofted pass forward.


It should be easily dealt with by Alba but once again his touch is terrible, allowing Piatti to unleash a rocket of a shot that flies just over the top of the crossbar.


67' GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Espanyol (Messi HAT-TRICK)

Messi wraps up his hat-trick! The Argentine links up really well with Suarez and sets up the latter to shoot, but he's closed down well by Lopez and can't get the better of the midfielder. 


Instead, the Uruguayan pokes the ball back to Alba, who quickly tees up Messi to easily beat Pau with a lovely low strike.


68' A huge roar goes around the stadium as Ousmane Dembele comes on to replace Deulofeu and make his Barcelona debut.


81' New signing goes close from scoring! And it's Paulinho. A lovely, curling cross from Suarez beats every defender inside the box before finding Paulinho over at the far post, but the Brazilian can't quite hit the target with his poked, close-range effort.



87' GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol (Pique)

Pique makes it 4-0! Rakitic's cross in from the corner is a great one and picks out Pique, who rises high above Mario Hermoso and manages to easily beat Pau with his downward header on the edge of the six-yard box.


90' GOAL! Barcelona 5-0 Espanyol (Suarez)

It's another for Barcelona! Dembele breaks down the right wing and quickly sends an excellent pass into the box and over to Saurez, who meets it well and easily beats Pau with a brilliant low finish into the far corner of the net.

source : www.luckynewsinfo.com


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http://www.luckynewsinfo.com/2017/09/barcelona-5-0-espanyol-easy-for-messi.html?m=1

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