Messi scores twice, Barca pours down second goal in four days

After crushing Celtic 7-0 in the Champions League, Barca returned to La Liga and won 5-1 at newcomers Leganes.

The MSN trio all scored early in the first half. Photo: Reuters

Goals: Gabriel 80' - Messi 15', 55', Suarez 31', Neymar 44', Rafinha 64'

Playing away at the newly promoted team, Barca had no trouble asserting their status as champions. In the first half, with strong team play, coach Luis Enrique's team quickly took a three-goal lead. When the second half had only lasted 19 minutes, the score was already 5-0 in favor of Barca. At the end of the match, Leganes scored a goal thanks to Gabriel's direct free kick.

The win over Leganes put Barca back at the top of La Liga, level on nine points with Real Madrid and ahead on goal difference. However, Real and Sevilla and Gijon, who are on seven points, have yet to play their fourth-round games.

Tactically, the match against Leganes was a real opportunity for coach Luis Enrique to test a new formation for Barca. Accordingly, instead of the familiar 4-3-3, the team started with a 3-4-3 formation. The back line consisted of three players with a strong point in central defense: Umtiti, Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano. Meanwhile, the midfield consisted of Jodie Alba, Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha. Up front, there was still the atomic trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Leganes are playing their first season in the country's top flight in nearly 90 years of existence. However, they are not timid. The home team entered the match confidently, and at times exploited the laxity in Barca's defense system.A typical example was Machis's escape down the left wing and continuous finishing in the 34th minute, causing goalkeeper Ter Stergen and Umtiti to struggle to block.

Leganes tried but not enough to avoid a heavy defeat. Photo: Reuters.

The biggest difference was Barca's attack. The explosion of the MSN trio almost covered everything, making the difference in the remaining issues of the match meaningless. Immediately phAt 15, the score was opened for Barca. In this situation, Suarez dribbled the ball at speed from the right wing and then crossed for Messi to tap in the goal.

The ease with which Barca played was evident in the way they scored. In the 31st and 44th minutes, Messi and Suarez could have both shot from one-on-one positions, but both opted to cross for their teammates to tap the ball into an empty net. Suarez converted the first into a goal, doubling the lead and then set up Neymar to make it 3-0.

Leganes' defense lacked the speed to stop Barca's combinations. Photo: AP.

Leganes tried harder to attack after the break but could not change much, against the superior level of Barca. And when the match was decided, the second half could have been less attractive if not for two great goals. First was Rafinha's curling shot, coming from 25 meters away, which the home team's goalkeeper flew all the way but still could not reach the ball. In the 80th minute, Leganes responded with an equally beautiful goal: Gabriel took a direct free kick from the same distance and sent the ball flying into the top corner, defeating Ter Stegen. Before that, in the 55th minute, Messi completed his personal double from the penalty spot - brought by Neymar after a breakthrough situation.

For Barca, the win over Leganes is also good preparation in terms of spirit and form. In the middle of next week, coach Enrique and his team will host Atletico Madrid in the match of round five of La Liga.

According to VNE