Barcelona showed they have hit top form ahead of next week's El Clasico with a superb 8-0 victory over struggling Almeria at the Estadio del Mediterraneo. The win equals Barcelona's biggest away victory in the league, an 8-0 demolition of Las Palmas in 1959. A Lionel Messi hat-trick, brace from substitute Bojan Krkic plus goals from Andres Iniesta, Pedro and a Santi Acasiete own-goal took Barcelona top of La Liga although Real Madrid will return to the summit with victory over Atletic Bilbao in tonight's late kick-off.
As early as the second minute Barcelona threatened to open the scoring. David Villa managed to manouevre his way past three Almeria defenders before having his shot well parried by Diego Alves.
The away side continued to dominate and on 17 minutes got their just rewards through a moment of Leo Messi and Villa magic. The diminutive Argentine played a wonderful one-two on the edge of the area with Villa before unleashing an unstoppable low effort past the outstretched Alves for goal number 20 of the season.
Barcelona only had to wait two minutes for their second of the night with Andres Iniesta benefitting from a defensive mistake. The playmaker broke into the Almeria box before playing a low cross in-field. The pass was intercepted by Hernan Bernadello who then inexplicably diverted the ball back into the direction of Iniesta who made no mistake in smashing the ball into the roof of Alves' net from six yards out.
The game was all over in the 27th minute when another defensive mistake saw Santi Acasiete, under no pressure, slide the ball past his own 'keeper from a low Maxwell cross.
Amazingly it was 4-0 on 33 minutes with Barcelona resorting to route one football. Debutant centre-half Andreu Fontas played a precise 60 yard ball forward to speedster Pedro who calmly slid the ball past the onrushing Alves.
The onslaught continued when two minutes later Messi scored his second of the game and 100th La Liga goal. Excellent wide-play by Pedro allowed the winger to cross the ball to an unmarked Messi who saw his original effort well blocked by Alves before making no mistake with the rebound, diverting the ball past the stranded 'keeper to give Barca a 5-0 half-time lead.
The away side understandably took their foot off the gas in the opening stages of the second-half with Wednesday's trip to Athens for the Champions League tie with Panathinaikos in mind, as well as next Monday's blockbuster with Real Madrid.
An improved Almeria came close to getting a consolation goal in the 57th minute when the talented Pablo Piatti saw his brilliant 18 yard half-volley tipped expertly onto the bar by Victor Valdes, great concentration shown by the Barca shot-stopper.
However there was to be a sixth and it was substitute Bojan Krkic who inflicted yet more pain on Los Rojiblancos on 62 minutes. The mercurial Messi played an accurate through-ball to the young Spaniard who did well to hold off Acasiete before dinking the ball past Alves.
The humiliation continued on 67 minutes with Messi scoring goal number three for a well deserved hat-trick and the superstar will not score an easier goal. Villa's 20 yard drive was parried by Alves straight into the path of Messi who had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net from three yards out. Six hat-tricks now in 2010, an amazing feat.
It was eight in the 73rd minute when Messi turned provider again for Bojan. Messi glided past two challenges before sliding an excellent through-ball to Bojan who made light-work of slipping the ball past the 'keeper.
It was nearly nine on 80 minutes when Bojan slid the ball to goalless Villa. The Spainish international attempted to smash a low effort past Diego Alves who even looked surprised himself when the ball rebounded off his legs and out for a corner.
Barcelona play Panathinaikos next in the Champions League on Wednesday while next up for Almeria is a trip to the Mestalla next Sunday to face Valencia.
Goals
| | 0 - 1 | 17' L. Messi (assist by Villa) |
| | 0 - 2 | 19' Iniesta |
| | 0 - 3 | 27' S. Acasiete (OG) |
| | 0 - 4 | 35' Pedro (assist by Andreu Fontàs) |
| | 0 - 5 | 37' L. Messi (assist by Pedro) |
| | 0 - 6 | 62' Bojan (assist by L. Messi) |
| | 0 - 7 | 67' L. Messi (assist by Villa) |
| | 0 - 8 | 73' Bojan (assist by L. Messi) |
Lineups
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diego Alves | |
| 18 | S. Acasiete |  27' |
| 21 | Carlos García | |
| 16 | Míchel Macedo | |
| 19 | M. M'bami | |
| 25 | H. Bernardello |  61' |
| 22 | F. Vargas | 31' |
| 10 | José Ortiz | |
| 15 | Corona | |
| 23 | H. Goitom | |
| 11 | P. Piatti | |
| Coach: Juanma Lillo | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Valdés | |
| 5 | Puyol | |
| 2 | Dani Alves | |
| 19 | Maxwell | |
| 26 | Andreu Fontàs | |
| 14 | J. Mascherano | |
| 8 | Iniesta  |  19' |
| 6 | Xavi | |
| 10 | L. Messi | 17' 37' 67' |
| 7 | Villa | |
| 17 | Pedro | 35' |
| Coach: Josep Guardiola | ||
Substitutes
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Esteban | |
| 17 | Juanma Ortiz | |
| 5 | K. Uche | |
| 6 | Luque | |
| 2 | M. Jakobsen | |
| 3 | M. Silva | |
| 7 | Nieto | |
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | S. Keita for Xavi 46' | |
| 30 | Thiago Alcántara for Iniesta 46' | 56' |
| 9 | Bojan for Pedro 56' | 62' 73' |
| 22 | E. Abidal | |
| 11 | Jeffren | |
| 13 | Pinto | |
| 3 | Piqué | |
Additional info
- Referee:
- C. Muniz Fernandez
- Assistants:
- J. Yuste Jimenez
M. Alvarez Moreno - Fourth official:
- H. López Puerta
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