Nothing can stop them! (0-3)

Barcelona (FCB).- Two goals from Messi and one from Pedro will have rubbed out the bad memories of a confusing day in which the squad finally had to travel by train and coach to Pamplona this afternoon, following the chaos caused by the Spanish air controllers’ strike. The game kicked off 45 minutes later than scheduled, but none of the hassle seemed to have troubled Barça who brushed aside the previously unbeaten at home Osasuna to run out comfortable 0-3 winners.

It was Leo Messi who caught the eye again, setting up Pedro’s opener and scoring the next two, one from a penalty.

Confidence high

After a slow start which maybe owed something to the complicated trip, Barça soon found their rhythm and with Guardiola sending out the same 11 who thrashed Madrid, the confidence was soon flowing through the team and on 26 minutes a lovely through ball down the middle from Messi released Pedro to fire past Ricardo for the opener. Almost immediately afterwards, only the post and the hosts’ keeper kept Messi put after another neat combination between the front three.

Control

The goal ushered in a period of control and domination of possession, unusual at such a combative ground. Only the final killer pass was missing and even though Osasuna tried to up their aggression after the break, Barça refused to be pushed back and having learnt from last season when Osasuna drew with a late, late goal, Guardiola’s men continued to take the attacking option.

The Basques’ options were finally nailed on 65 minutes when Messi outsprinted the defence and fired in Barça’s second.

First penalty and second goal for Messi

David Villa tirelessly attacked the Osasuna defence, but was unable to get the third, an honour that fell to Messi who converted an 82^nd minute penalty  - Barça’s first of the league campaign – to confirm the team’s seventh win out of seven on the road at the start of this season.

Goals

0-1 Pedro (min 26)

0-2 Messi (min 65)

0-3 Messi (p)(min 82)