Messi destroys Mallorca with a hat trick (5-0)

Barcelona (FCB).- It really doesn’t pay to question Leo Messi. On Saturday he put paid to any doubts that had been voiced following his three games without a goal when he scored three within the first 30 minutes to ensure Barça took the points against Mallorca.

FC Barcelona went out for the win right from the start and Messi revelled in their attacking intent. Barça welcomed back Puyol and Piqué, as well as giving Gerard Deulofeu his debut and Cuenca and Alves rounded off the win with goals at the start and the end of the second half.

Attacking intent

Barça again lined up with a 3-4-3 formation, featuring a deep lying Messi, David Villa and out wide Isaac Cuenca as their front three. Mallorca nearly took advantage of the high risk strategy on 6 minutes when Joao Víctor fluffed a great chance after a cross from Castro, but Messi calmed the home side’s nerves with a 13^th minute penalty after Nsue had handled in the box.

Hat trick hero

Xavi and Iniesta were both given the night off, but Barça were soon dominating and on the quarter of an hour David Villa nearly doubled the lead when he was one on one with the Mallorca keeper. The second goal wasn’t long in coming though as Cuenca broke down the right to cross for Adriano, whose misfit shot fell to Messi to fire home.

The world number one got his hat trick on 30 minutes when he latched onto a perfect long range pass from Alves to fire home and put the game definitively beyond Mallorca’s reach. The visitors then defended desperately as the half drew to a close, as they fought to avoid a thrashing.

Reward for Cuenca

Barça’s manager, Pep Guardiola, brought Piqué on after the break to switch to a four man defence and soon after Puyol also came on. On 49 minutes, Isaac Cuenca scored his first goal with FC Barcelona’s first team, rounding the keeper and slotting home like a veteran.

Deulofeu debut and a great goal from Alves

With the result wrapped up, the pace dropped and the centre of attention switched to the debutant Gerard Deulofeu, who showed plenty of spirit out on the left wing. Messi kept plugging away, but it was Dani Alves with a thunderbolt who made it five in injury time.

Goals

1-0 Messi (p) (min 13)
2-0 Messi (min 21)
3-0 Messi (min 30)
4-0 Cuenca min 49)
5-0 Alves (min 91)