Barcelona net away record
Lionel Messi struck a hat-trick and Bojan Krkic bagged a brace as
Barcelona strolled to an incredible 8-0 victory at lowly Almeria
in the Primera Division tonight.
Pep Guardiola's side raced into a 5-0 lead before half-time in
a hugely one-sided contest.
Messi opened the scoring after 17 minutes and Andres Iniesta took
advantage of poor defending to score the second just two minutes
later.
A Santiago Acasiete own goal made it 3-0 before the half hour mark,
Pedro made it four 10 minutes prior to the interval and Messi added
his second in Barca's very next attack.
Substitute Bojan added two in the second half and Messi completed
his hat-trick as Guardiola's side ran riot in Andalusia.
Barcelona came into this match on the back of five straight Primera
Division victories, but the Catalans were still a point behind Jose
Mourinho's Real Madrid, who were in action at home to Athletic Bilbao
straight after this match.
Almeria, meanwhile, were struggling at the wrong end of the table,
having won just once in the league all season.
Reports in Spain suggested that coach Juanma Lillo, a friend and
mentor of Guardiola, would lose his job if his side lost this match.
But any other outcome seemed highly unlikely as the game got under
way.
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