Barcelona came from behind to thump Espanyol 5-1 in the Catalan derby on Sunday afternoon.
Sergio Garcia handed the visitors the lead after 14 minutes, but the two sides were level at the break following a curling effort from Lionel Messi.
Messi scored his second early in the second period, before Gerard Pique netted a third. The scoring was not finished, however, as Pedro made it 4-1 after 78 minutes, before Messi completed his hat-trick late on.
Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action between the two Spanish rivals.
Match statistics
BARCELONA
Shots: 15
On target: 7
Possession: 79%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 6
ESPANYOL
Shots: 3
On target: 2
Possession: 21%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 11
Was the result fair?
The scoreline suggests that this was a straightforward and indeed comfortable three points for Barcelona, but that was not the case at the Camp Nou, at least not in the first period. Espanyol created the better chances in the first 45 minutes and but for some poor finishing could easily have entered the break with a 2-0 lead.
The visitors simply could not build on Garcia's strike, however, and took a hammer blow moments before the interval when Messi equalised. Espanyol had the half-time break to regain their composure, but they never emerged for the second period.
Barcelona upped their level after the break, but did not have to do too much to move 3-1 ahead. From that moment, the match was over and the home side were always in second gear. The final score is perhaps a touch harsh on Espanyol based on their first-half performance, but Barca were certainly worthy winners.
Barcelona's performance
What a difference a late first-half equaliser makes. Barcelona's supporters were ready to boo their side off at the interval following a really poor first half, but the mood changed in stoppage time when Messi found the bottom corner. There is no question that Barca struggled in the first 45 minutes, but they were a completely different animal in the second half. Neymar and Luis Suarez - both of whom struggled in the first period - were full of life, while Messi was in full flow following his first.
Two quick-fire goals in the early stages of the second period made it 3-1, before Pedro and Messi added gloss to the scoreline in the latter stages. It was a result that simply did not look possible after the first half of action. Whether Barca were brilliant in the second period or Espanyol were dreadful is open to debate, but it was still a strong performance from the home side. Head coach Luis Enrique has much to ponder in the weeks ahead, however, with Messi perhaps slightly glossing over their struggles.
Espanyol's performance
As disappointing as Barcelona were in the first period, Espanyol must be credited for their approach to the match. Garcia, who opened the scoring, was deployed alongside Felipe Caicedo, which gave the home side plenty to think about in terms of movement. Inexperienced centre-back Eric Bertrand also impressed for long spells of the first period, but it would be fair to say that the wheels well and truly came off in the second period. While Barca's equaliser late in the half would have been tough to take, it cannot be used as an excuse for their utter collapse.
Everything good about their first-half performance - tight marking and pace on the counter - was not seen after the interval, while they really struggled to contain Barca when the tempo increased. In fact, Espanyol did not have a single attempt in the second period and in truth, were hardly in the opposition's half of the field. A defeat at the Camp Nou is not a real problem, but their attitude will be called into question after what occurred in the second 45 minutes.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Lionel Messi: The Argentine has now scored three hat-tricks in his last four games for Barca following another treble at the Camp Nou. The home side really needed their star player in this match and he delivered in spectacular fashion. Messi's first was a sensational curling effort into the bottom corner, while his second and third demonstrated his finishing ability from inside the box. Some of his teammates were off-colour, but Messi was in full flow.
Biggest gaffe
There is not really one incident that sticks out, but the manner in which Espanyol collapsed was extremely disappointing. The visitors deservedly took the lead in the early moments, but could not hold on until the interval - with Messi levelling the scores after 45 minutes. Espanyol were still in the game at that stage, but they conceded twice more early in the second period and the game was as good as over from that point. Their experienced heads should have attempted to settle the ship.
Referee performance
Referee Ignacio Iglesias had a fairly comfortable evening at the Camp Nou, despite issuing four yellow cards - all of which were awarded to the visitors. The official had a big decision to make early in the second period when Espanyol defender Bertrand appeared to bundle Neymar over inside the box, but no decision was forthcoming, which did not go down too well with the Barca supporters. In truth, Iglesias was not seen for long spells, which is always a good sign for a referee.
What next?
Barcelona: Barca host Paris Saint-Germain in the group stages of the Champions League on Wednesday, before travelling to Getafe in the league next weekend.
Espanyol: Next up for the Catalan side is a home league match against Granada next Sunday.
Matt Law
