European champions Barcelona produced a rampant performance
against overwhelmed Osasuna to bounce back from a difficult
week.
Pep Guardiola's side were eager to make a statement
after allowing both Real Sociedad and AC Milan to snatch
draws in the last seven days and did so in style in
Saturday's Primera Division clash at the Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi started and finished the scoring en route
to an impressive hat-trick while David Villa scored
two, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi grabbed one each and defender
Roversio scored an unfortunate own goal.
Barca, traditionally slow starters under Pep Guardiola,
had won one and drawn one from their opening two La
Liga games while allowing Milan a late equaliser in
the Champions League on Tuesday.
If anything it was Osasuna, unbeaten in their two previous
games, who did the early pressing as Barca conceded
a corner and saw Nino's diagonal cross hit the bar,
though the assistant's flag was already raised.
The hosts took the lead in the fifth minute, though.
Sergio Busquets - moved back to midfield from defence
- found Daniel Alves' run with a superb chipped pass
and the right-back nodded the ball across for the onrushing
Messi to jab it home at the far post.
Villa had an effort from the left saved by Andres Fernandez
and the goalkeeper also did well to deny Messi's attempt.
If the first goal was good, the second was sublime.
Thiago, positioned on the right, flighted a well-placed
pass inside to Fabregas. The Catalan chested the ball
down for Messi and darted into the box to meet the Argentinian's
wonderful through ball and volley home with the left
foot.
Fabregas could have had a second when he broke clear
but was denied by the onrushing Andres.
Eric Abidal headed against the bar with an offside
flag raised anyway before Nino kept Victor Valdes on
his toes once more with a decent low shot.
The woodwork featured again in the 30th minute when
Messi hit the post with a header from Alves' cross.
It was seemingly over as a contest in the 34th minute
when Villa made it 3-0, cutting inside to receive Abidal's
pass and rounding Andres.
A long ball forward set Villa through and though Andres
saved his shot, the ball deflected off defender Roversio.
It was becoming embarrassing when Barca went 5-0 up
through Messi. Fabregas received Xavi's inch-perfect
pass, turned nicely and laid the ball off for Messi
to sweep home.
Messi hit the bar in the 50th minute with an attempted
chip The sixth did come, however, and it was provided
by Xavi in the 57th minute. The playmaker drifted forward
stealthily to receive Messi's pass and lift the ball
over the helpless Andres.
Andres did make another save soon after though when
Messi brought down Alves' cross superbly before poking
at goal.
The lively Nino then broke clear near the halfway line
but after bearing down on goal from the left, failed
to bend his shot around Valdes.
The Navarran outfit then got the ball into the net
but only via a deflection of Ibrahima Balde, who was
standing offside and therefore flagged.
Osasuna did not help themselves for Barca's seventh,
getting into a muddle and allowing Messi to break forward
and find Fabregas who squared for Villa to control and
convert.
It was soon eight in the 79th minute. Messi and Fabregas
played with the ball among themselves before the Argentinian
showed a delightful burst of pace to slice the defence
open and slot home.
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